The salvage operation to re-float the sunken oil barge Orion-I commenced here on Saturday morning after Eid vacations. According to its owner, Maslik Qutub, the weather has improved a lot and high tides have subsided.
Apparently, there could be no obstacle now in re-floating the vessel which will then be tugged away to port area for detailed inspection to ascertain the cause of disaster and make it sea worthy again, the owner said.
The Orion-I, one of about two-dozen oil barges operating in port area privately ran aground in the first week of this month in a sudden sea swell. It was carrying 72 tonnes of heavy fuel oil at the time of incident, but any oil spill was averted as its three-member crew secured the fuel tanks as soon as the vessel developed technical fault after water entered its engine room.
During week-long operation, salvage master and expert, diver from a Singapore-based salvage company worked relentlessly for transferring about 67 tonnes of heavy fuel oil from four tanks of Orion-I to another oil barge.
The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) provided necessary manpower and equipment to the owner to avert any oil spill. The KPT men also supervised the salvage operation till the vessel is brought to the shore.
Comments
Comments are closed.