Pipeline Leak Causes Oil Spill in Indian Port

At the port of Mundra, India on June 17th, high speed diesel spilled while being unloaded from vessel, the Jag Anchal, in a trench area of the port.  It is believed that the spill was attempted to go unreported, but news of the spillage was unleashed a few days later.  The high speed diesel fuel belongs to Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. and had been carried in the Jag Anchal in charter from the Great Eastern Shipping Company. 

Officials at the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) have yet to determine the exact extent of the spillage citing that they are gathering details about the incident, however there are estimates that it is around 500-odd liters.  They added that the diesel spill was not visible in the sea water, but are collecting samples to see if spill caused any pollution.  GPCB seem confident that the lack of visible damage indicates that either it was a minor spill, or that cleaning operations were undertaken by the Hindustan Petroleum Corp, or port authorities.

GPCB Chairman, KU Mistry, said that the ship was offloading the high speed diesel when the pipeline connecting the ship and the tank garnered a puncture.  Reportedly, the automatic valves were immediately closed, and the remaining oil in the pipeline split on the berth slipping into the ocean. 

The GPCB has issued notices to the Gujarat Maritime Board, Hindustan Petroleum Corp., and the Coast Guard asking to give reports of the spillage, given that there are mixed reports of what actually occurred.

The 60,000 metric-tonne capacity ship has off-loaded all fuel and is currently returned back to its destination.