A meeting on the blazing crude oil tanker in Sri Lankan waters, the New Diamond, was held with the participation of the Attorney General.
The meeting has been attended by the Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Director General of Merchant Shipping, and the Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority, official sources said.
Coordinating Officer of the Attorney General stated that that the meeting has been held to review and advice on the issues arising from the fire
Sri Lanka will go all out to recover the cost incurred to save an oil tanker that caught fire in its waters, from the vessel’s insurance firm, officials said on Sunday.
An international company has provided insurance to the vessel and the fuel on it,” Dr Turney Pradeep Kumara, the general manager of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said.
New Diamond that was sailing under the Panamian flag caught fire on Thursday, requiring strong assistance from the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy to douse the flames.
Foreign security agencies were also part of the operation.Mr Kumara conceded that chemicals, ash, and burnt oil that were released due to the fire may have entered Sri Lankan waters.
“That is not similar to a large oil spill. However, we assume that there might have been some issue there,” the general manager said.
Fishermen in the area claimed that the water in that area had developed a greasy texture since the fire.
(LIN)