Attorney General advised stakeholders on 'MT New Diamond'; AG's CO

The Attorney General met with the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy , Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority , Director General of Merchant Shipping & Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority to review & advise on issues arising from the fire on the MT New Diamond, confirmed State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General.

MT New Diamond, an oil tanker sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangaman-kanda Point east of Sri Lanka issued a distress signal on3rd September 2020.

The distressed oil tanker in eastern seas was manned by 23 crew members including 5 Greeks and 18 Philippine nationals.

Further, the tanker was transporting 270,000 metric tons of crude oil from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip, when it faced this unfortunate event.

It is also reported that 1700 metric tons of diesel required for the use of the tanker is also stored onboard.

MT New Diamond is a 20-year old crude oil tanker that is 333 meters long and 60 meters wide, and sailed with a Japanese certificate and is registered in Panama.