Oil spill near Kamarajar Port arrested

The oil spill that took place after two ships collided near Kamarajar Port here was arrested soon after the incident and no "considerable" spillage had taken place, the Port clarified today.
Responding to media reports that the oil spillage had reached the shores of Marina and Thiruvanmiyur, a Port release said: "It is hereby clarified that there is no oil spill from Saturday morning."
Stating that the spread of oil noticed on the beaches was apparently due to the spillage of oil that occurred at the time of collision of the ships around 4 AM on January 28, the release said, "It is clarified that oil spill was arrested and no considerable spillage has taken place, thereafter (the incident)."

The mishap had occurred when 'M T BW Maple', with a flag of Isle of Man, was leaving after emptying Liquefied Petroleum Gas and M T Dawn, Kanchipuram, loaded with petroleum oil lubricant (POL), was on its way to berth at the suburban port, formerly Ennore port.
Meanwhile, senior government officials from the Ministry of Shipping and state Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan visited the Port today and took stock of the situation with all the stakeholders.
Union Minister of State for Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan who had visited the site yesterday, has said no oil spill had taken place from the ship, according to the release.

On the steps taken to clean the beaches in the aftermath of the oil spill, the release said, as many as 200 personnel from Kamarajar Port in addition to several personnel from Chennai Port, Coast Guard, Government departments besides volunteers were involved in cleaning operations.
A majority of the cleaning is expected to be completed by February 2 evening, it said.
All other ship movements and functioning of the port is normal, it added.