90pc spilled oil cleaned up: CPA

Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) is cleaning up spilled oil from Karnaphuli river, following a collision between an oil tanker and a lighter vessel on early Friday.

The oil tanker “Desh-1”, which carried fuel for power stations, developed a leak following a collision with “City-38” at Dolphin Jetty-3 of the river, said Omar Faruque, secretary of CPA. Around 10 tonnes of oil spilled in the river due the incident, he added.

Four CPA ships -- Bay Cleaner 1, 2 and Kandari 10, 11 -- along with two boats removed around 90 percent oil from the river till yesterday, said Omar Faruque. “We will complete the work by today,” he added.

CPA detained masters of both the vessels and seized the watercrafts.

Demurrage will be realised from owners of both the ships for the damage done to the environment, said the official.

According to experts, spilled oil creates a longtime impact on the biodiversity as its degradation process is very slow.

A large portion of oil remains in the water for long and affects the biodiversity.

It has a bad impact not only on phytoplankton and zooplankton but also on birds hovering over.

Oil also blocks the sunlight from entering into the water, they added.

It also reduces dissolved oxygen in water and ultimately fisheries get affected.