Mumbai Ship Collision: MSC Chitra Owners Told to Pay

Port authorities have sent notices to the MSC Chitra’s owners, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, asking them to pay full the full clean-uo costs associate with the accident. They have been called polluters, after the vessel collided with the MV Khalijia. An investigation continues as to which vessel was responsible for the collison, however because the cargo onboard the Chitra was of a hazardous and toxic nature they are being fined for the pollution off the coast of Mumbai.

It was Chitra's tanks that caused the oil spill and the falling tankers caused both Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to shut down.

One hundred of the 250 containers that fell into the sea have gone missing. Two of these containers contain hazardous chemicals. The Navy is conducting a survey of the sea using sonar equipment to try and trace the containers with the help of a salvage team

The MSC Chitra and the MV Khalijia collided on August 7 off the coast on Mumbai. The Chitra has been grounded in the Arabian Sea since then.

The oil leak from the Chitra was plugged after hundreds of tons of crude oil were spilt. As a result of the spill and the hundreds of containers in the seaway, both Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) were shut for many days.

Photo Courtesy of AFP