The Turkish-flagged chemical tanker Granba has been abandoned by its crew off the eastern Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee after its cargo of sulphuric acid began leaking.
The Turkish-flagged chemical tanker Granba has been abandoned by its crew off the eastern Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee after its cargo of sulphuric acid began leaking, local reports said.
The Sri Lankan Navy was quoted saying that it rescued the Granba's crew and towed the tanker further out onto the high seas ?to prevent pollution?.
The 1983-built 7,650 dwt chemical products tanker is managed and operated by Turkey's Ortak Denizcilik Sanayi while its registered owner is Kadir Colak Denizcilik Turizm.
Navy vessels had arrived in response to a distress message and according to the Navy the tanker was ?overloaded? with a cargo of sulphuric acid which was leaking from its tanks.
?Sri Lanka Navy vessels, having verified the legitimacy of the vessel, approached the disabled tanker and provided assistance to steer the vessel away,? said a statement from the Navy.
?However, its crew abandoned their vessel and the Sri Lanka Navy rescued them. Naval personnel boarded the tanker and found that its cargo tanks were damaged.?
?Its sulphuric acid was leaking into (the) ballast tanks...this can lead to environmental implications in Sri Lankan waters and coastline.?
?As a result, the navy has taken measures to tow the tanker into the deep sea with the help of a tug from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority as it has already begun to list.?.
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