Be cautious around sunken merchant vessel, ships told

The Indian Coast Guard has sensitised West Bengal and Odisha about the threat of an oil spill and issued an advisory for all mariners to exercise caution when navigating in the area where Panama-registered MV Bingo sank off the Indian coast.

The China-bound merchant vessel sank off Sagar Island Oct 12, unable to withstand the fury of the cyclone Phailin.

A defence ministry statement said Tuesday the wreck was located by Coast Guard aircraft Oct 15, and its position has been marked with a buoy.

The Coast Guard ships and aircraft are regularly monitoring the status of the sunken ship, which contained 8,125 metric tons of iron ore, 232 tons of fuel oil and about 30 tons of diesel when it sank.

"At present no oil spill has been noticed from the sunken ship.The states of Odisha and West Bengal have been sensitized regarding potential threat of pollution in case of any oil spill," the statement said.

A notice has been served to the owner of shipping company, master of the vessel and agents for removal of wreck and take adequate measures for controlling oil pollution, if any.