DG Shipping institutes inquiry in the collision of two ships off Kamarajar harbour

Feb 06, 2017: Directorate General of Shipping has instituted a statutory inquiry under the Merchant Shipping Act to ascertain the causes and contributory factors leading to the collision of two ships off Kamarajar harbour. Both the ships have been restrained from leaving the Port. Two vessels namely, MT BW MAPLE and MT Dawn Kanchipuram while crossing each other collided at 03.45AM on January 28, 2017 outside the Kamarajar harbour. The oil tanker, MT DAWN KANCHIPURAM, which was carrying 32,813 tonnes of POL (petroleum, oil & lubricants), suffered a rupture which led to engine oil spill (and not the POL being carried as cargo). There was no casualty or injury to the crew members.

DG Shipping is also holding discussions with the owners of the ships and the mechanism of distribution of compensation and payment of claims by the insurers will be shortly in place. The P&I insurers of MT Dawn Kanchipuram are in the process of establishing a local ‘Claims Desk’ and specifying the procedures for submitting and handling claims. The representative from the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (a specialised international agency on ‘Oil Spill Response’) – arranged by the owner/P&I insurers of MT Dawn Kanchipuram is already in Chennai.

Kamarajar Port had immediately deployed oil boom around the vessel after bringing it to a safe location at 07.00 AM on January 28, 2017 to contain seepage if any. No further seepage was discovered. The situation was closely monitored by top officials of the port from the time of accident and the required assistance was rendered to both vessels. Since the oil tanker MT Kanchipuram was loaded with a huge amount of POL cargo, it was critical to ensure that this vessel is safely berthed and its cargo discharged to obviate the possibility of any further catastrophic accident and a major oil spill.

Immediate steps were taken to assess the damage to the vessel. The diving team of Kamarajar Port carried out under-water inspections. The port officials consulted the respective Classification Societies and DG, Shipping officials who carried out inspection of the vessels internally and externally. After examining the stability of the vessel, it was decided to berth the MT Kanchipuram at the port to immediately discharge cargo to prevent any environmental damage. The Kamarajar Port carefully brought this vessel to the port which was a very challenging task since the main engine of the vessel was not in operation and the berthing movement had to be carried out as a cold move. This major step averted the possibility of a major oil spill disaster. This vessel has now completely discharged the POL cargo.

The National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan provides that while the port is responsible for responding to an oil spill within the port area, the Coast Guard is responsible for acting as the Central Coordinating Agency for combating oil pollution in the maritime zone and the State Governments are responsible for shore line response. Equipment required to handle Tier-1 Oil Spill Response was available with the Kamarajar Port and was also deployed.