The Director of Tema Port, Jacob Adorkor, has warned that punitive measures would be taken against vessels that “carelessly” endanger the port environment through oil spillage and other related acts of pollution to deter other vessels from doing same.
The punitive measures, according to him are in line with international regulations and that those actions will save management the huge cost it has to bear in cleaning up the port to ensure that the port community remains safe for work.
Director of the Tema Port, Jacob Adorkor, sounded this caution when the vessel MSC Alexa, belonging to Mediterranean Shipping Company spilled heavy marine diesel oil in the process of ballasting and de-ballasting; a process whereby sea water is taken out of the vessel.
He said: “We are going to take adequate measures against the vessel; because it is an international regulation that you should inform the port authority when there is a leakage on your tank, and they failed to that so the appropriate measures will be put in place.
“This we believe will send a signal that you cannot do this in Tema Port and go scot free.” charged.
On Thursday, May 12, 2016, a Rapid Spillage Response Team of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, comprising divers, mechanical engineers, marine operators, fire and safety men, port security as well as environment and estate officers teamed up to siphon the marine gas oil that had been spilled into the sea.
According to Mr. Adorkor, the Tema Port is capable of handling any oil spillage that may occur in the port environment so as not to endanger marine species but they could only do that when they are notified on time.
He therefore charged masters and crew of vessels to inform the port authority promptly any they detect spillage for the necessary action to be taken so as to prevent the spread.
The Habour Master of Tema Port, Capt. James Richmond Quayson said the master of the vessel as well as crew members failed to inform the port authority about the spillage and that it took the vigilance of the port security on patrol to detect the problem.
He said the rapid response team of the port were then called to action with their oil spillage equipment to contain the situation.
“The ship didn’t do the due diligence and they are going to pay for it,” he said.
The Estate and Environment Manager of Tema Port, George Asare, described the incident as unfortunate and added that the waste would be disposed-off properly to avert any harm to marine species.
Source: B&FT Online