WATCH: Defuelling of stranded ship at Karachi beach ‘safely completed’

Pakistan Navy along with other maritime stakeholders jointly carried out operation, says official statement

The Pakistan Navy along with other maritime stakeholders has safely completed the defuelling process of merchant ship that ran aground at Seaview beach in Karachi last week.

Panama registered MV Heng Tong 77 was anchored in Pakistan’s territorial waters off Karachi for a crew change on July 21 when it lost anchors due to rough seas and drifted towards the shore.

“PN [Pakistan Navy] spearheaded and coordinated all efforts; rendered assistance to overcome challenges involved in de-bunkering process thus eliminating risk of marine pollution,” the Pakistan Navy said in a tweet on Thursday.

الحمدللہ#PakNavy along with other maritime stake holders has safely completed the defueling process of MV HENG TONG 77. PN spearheaded & coordinated all efforts; rendered assistance to overcome challenges involved in de-bunkering process thus eliminating risk of Marine pollution pic.twitter.com/aX2q0n2mzQ

— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) July 29, 2021

The officials of Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the Pakistan Navy and Maritime Security Agency (MSA) had jointly carried out the operation which started earlier in the morning.

The ship was carrying 118 tonnes of bunker fuel.

Earlier, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Maritime Affairs Mahmood Moulvi had said that the authorities would make all-out efforts to avoid the spill of even “one drop” of oil before making a salvage attempt in the middle of next month.

An attempt to salvage the ship could not be made before Aug 15, Mahmood had said.

On July 27, 2003, Tasman Spirit, an oil tanker, ran aground while navigating to the port of Karachi. It broke up and spilled around 30,000 metric tonnes of oil over the next few days, which is one of Pakistan’s worst environmental disasters.