PPT gets customs nod to transport furnace oil

The authorities of Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) have finally transported 175 tonnes of furnace oil evacuated from Black Rose, the sunken vessel to Kolkata and Ranchi through lorries after getting the clearance from the Customs officials.

The Commissioner of Customs issued a directive to the deputy commissioner (customs), Paradeep on Saturday to give immediate clearance for the transport of furnace oil after realizing that it is an emergency work.

K Raghuramaiah, chairman, PPT admitted that the Customs officials have already given permission to transport the furnace oil and said the removal of oil from the sunken vessel has started again smoothly on Sunday.

It may be noted that the oil discharge operations were stalled by the Customs officials who did not allow the oil tankers of PPT loaded with the furnace oils to be transported to Kolkata and Ranchi.

The PPT authorities’ attempt to transport the evacuated furnace oil to Kolkata and Ranchi without depositing the cost towards Custom duty and obtaining the clearance certificate from the Customs department had led to this stalemate.

M Anasari, deputy commissioner (customs), Paradeep intervened in the matter and directed the PPT authorities not to remove oil from the sunken vessel.

As a result, the oil discharge operations from the sunken vessel was affected and not a single drop of oil was evacuated on Saturday.

Sources said Resolve Marine Group, the US-based firm which was awarded the contract by PPT for the evacuation of furnace oil from the sunken vessel had pumped out 175 tonnes of oil.

A core group of this firm consisting of the salvage master, salvage engineer, safety engineer and under water divers has removed oil from sunken vessel. Similarly, one Chennai based ship tanker with a capacity of 300 tonnes was pressed into service to remove the oil from vessel.