KARACHI: Pakistani authorities said on Sunday they are waiting for salvage tugs to arrive and immediately start a rescue operation for a giant cargo ship stuck off the coast of Karachi as oil leakage is feared.
The MV Heng Tong 77, a cargo ship with a capacity of 3,600 dead weight tonnage, was on the way from Shanghai to Turkey, as it anchored in Pakistan’s territorial waters for a crew change. According to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), it lost its anchors due to extreme weather and started drifting toward shallow waters in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
While the maritime affairs ministry started an inquiry into the incident, the ship stuck at Karachi’s Seaview beach. The KTP's pollution control team on Sunday sealed off a part of the beach as the vessel is carrying 118 tons of bunker fuel.
"We hope to start operation as soon as the rescue tugs arrive. It may start today (Sunday) or sometime tomorrow," Shariq Amin, KPT spokesman told Arab News. "At the moment groundwork is underway to thwart any untoward incident of oil leakage."
KPT Marine Pollution Control Rapid Response team is monitoring the site non-stop, he said, adding that the Panama-flagged vessel's owner has sent an expert from China to help with the rescue operation, which must correspond tide timings.
While there are no signs of leakage from the vessel, the Pakistan Navy said on Saturday it had been acting under a pollution contingency plan.
“Commander Coast has been nominated as On Scene Commander (OSC) to supervise the on-site preparations to contain risk of pollution in coordination with PMSA (Pakistan Maritime Security Agency) and KPT," the navy said in a statement.
"Anti-pollution barrier has been deployed by KPT around the grounded ship and other response elements are being mustered in vicinity. MV Heng Tong 77 is carrying 118 tons of bunker fuel which is a source of immediate concern."
Pakistan waiting for rescue tugs as leakage feared from giant ship stuck off Karachi
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Pakistan waiting for rescue tugs as leakage feared from giant ship stuck off Karachi
- Vessel lost anchors due to extreme weather and drifted towards shallow water on Wednesday morning
- MV Heng Tong 77 in is carrying 118 tons of bunker fuel which authorities say is a source of immediate concern
Pakistan receives third batch of humanitarian aid from China for flood-hit communities
- Intense rains and floods this year killed more than 1,037 people, displaced millions and damaged crops on vast tracts in Pakistan
- The arrival of the latest consignment comes at a time when the onset of winter season has compounded problems of displaced people
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received a third consignment of humanitarian assistance from China for flood-affected communities in the country, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
Intense rains and floods this year killed more than 1,037 people and damaged crops worth billions of dollars in Pakistan, which ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change.
The deluges displaced millions of people as they damaged more than 229,000 homes, washed away 2,811 kilometers of roads, 790 bridges and over 22,800 livestock in affected areas.
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which received the shipment, appreciated timely assistance by the Chinese government for disaster relief efforts in Pakistan.
“The shipment marks the continuation of China’s humanitarian support,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported. “It includes 100 boats, 5,000 tents, and 8,000 blankets.”
China has so far provided Pakistan with 33,000 blankets, 6,000 tents, 100 boats, 1,000 life jackets and 4,000 sleeping bags, according to the report.
The arrival of the latest consignment coincides with the onset of winter season, which has compounded the problems of displaced Pakistanis.
The NDMA reiterated its commitment to mobilize all available resources and ensure the provision of relief items in affected areas strictly in accordance with “ground needs and evolving situation assessments.”
