Owners of stricken super tanker asked to tow vessel away from Lankan waters

The Marine Environment Protection Authority would inform the owners of supertanker “MT New Diamond,” which caught fire last week in Sri Lankan waters, while carrying more than a million barrels of crude oil to India to tow the vessel away from the country’s maritime boundary without delay, the MEPA Head said yesterday.

Chairperson of the MEPA Attorney-at-Law Dharshani Lahandapura told media that it would be conveyed in writing to the relevant party yesterday (10) as per the directives of the Attorney General.

Lahandapura sought the Attorney General’s advice on the matter Wednesday (09).

The Sri Lanka Navy told media that it had observed, both on Tuesday (08) and Wednesday (09), a narrow diesel-like oil patch in the sea close to the ship. They were to deal with the oil patch using chemicals.

The coordinating officer of the Attorney General, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told the media that the MEPA Chairperson had been instructed to issue necessary directions to those engaged in salvage operations to take immediate measures to stop the oil leaking in Sri Lankan waters.

Navy Spokesperson Captain Indika de Silva said that they, too, would carry out an investigation into the oil leak with the help of their divers.