Mumbai coast oil spill stops ship movement; Moradabad exporters incur losses

MORADABAD - Exporters in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district are incurring heavy losses following the suspension of movement of ships to and from the ports of Mumbai and Nhava Sheva due to the oil spill from the collision of two vessels off the Mumbai coast.

Using other ports on the western coast, such as the ports in Gujarat, is not considered viable, as Mumbai is the cheapest port.

“Main problem is of cost-effectiveness because another substitute we have is Gujarat port. If we take out our shipment from Gujarat port, almost 20 to 25 percent costs are incurred on our products,” said Satpal, the president of the Exporters’ Union.

Over 24,000 containers are stranded due to the oil spill.

“Ships loaded with containers are waiting at the Bombay port, Nhava Sheva, Daunagiri and other ports. Till this route is not cleared, these 12 ships cannot go out. As per my information, approximately 24,000 containers are in it and around 20 such vessels are standing outside which are waiting to come in. Until these 12 vessels do not move out of the port, those 20 vessels cannot come in,” said Gurvinder, a shipping agent.

Two Panamanian ships, MSC Chitra and MV Khalija-III, collided five nautical miles off Mumbai on August 7.he collision of the two ships, which resulted in one nearly tilting into the sea, triggered off an oil slick that has spread to a distance of two nautical miles from the capsized ship.

The vessel was carrying 2,662 tonnes of heavy oil in its tanks, and 245 tonnes of diesel oil.

However, the port authorities have given the assurance that normal operations would be resumed by Sunday (August 15). By Vibhav Porav (ANI)