PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that extraction of heavy oil and naphtha from the grounded vessel will commence from Monday subject to weather conditions.
“The process to extract naphtha and transfer to a tank in a barge will begin from Monday morning provided the weather is suitable. We are hopeful there is no delay,” he told reporters on Sunday.
The CM conceded that initial attempts to empty the grounded vessel Nu-Shi Nalini was delayed as hydraulic pump fell into the sea and also due to unfavourable weather. “Today (Sunday), we took a trial and got a new (hydraulic) pump. All precautions are taken to ensure the exercise begins from tomorrow (Monday) morning, if weather is suitable,” he stated.
The CM said he has been taking review meetings with the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and the last meeting was held on Sunday evening. Home Minister Amit Shah and Director General of Shipping are monitoring the ship and efforts to pump out the chemical from the ill-fated stranded ship.
Mid last week, the operation to pump out naphtha from the ship received a setback after the hydraulic pump – ferried via helicopter by the Indian Navy from Mumbai to the vessel – fell into the sea. The pump was specially flown in by the Indian Navy from Mumbai.
