No Oil Spill from MV Eurosun; MEPA

Colombo (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said there is no oil leak from the bulk carrier MV Eurosun, that ran aground on Little Basses Reef, to the South-East of Sri Lanka on Saturday (23).

Marine Environment Protection Authority General Manager Dr. P.B. Terney Pradeep Kumara speaking to News 1st said all necessary personnel are kept on standby to act immediately, if any emergency situation is observed. A bulk carrier named ‘MV Eurosun’ en route to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from Abu Dhabi Port of UAE carrying clinker, ran aground at Little Basses which is about 5.5 nautical miles (10km) off the southeastern coast of the island. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the bulk carrier sailing under Liberian flag has a shipment of over 33,000 MT of clinker and a storage of about 720 MT of bunker. On receipt of distress call to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Colombo), a Sri Lanka Navy ship and craft were rushed to the scene from the ports of Hambantota and Galle on Saturday afternoon (23rd January 2021). The Sri Lanka Navy ship and craft boarded with Navy divers have now reached MV Eurosun and begun preliminary investigation. However, no damage to the bulk carrier’s hull has been reported and there is no sign of water leaking into the ship or oil into the ocean. Further, an aircraft of Sri Lanka Air Force did aerial reconnaissance in the area to capture aerial footage, following a request by the Navy. MRCC Colombo located at Navy Headquarters is carefully observing the developments into the incident. The 180 metre long bulk carrier is manned by a crew of 18. Sri Lanka Air Force said the No 3 Maritime Squadron of SLAF deployed a Beechcraft model 200 airplane for aerial reconnaissance. The vessel EUROSUN (IMO: 9546227, MMSI 636015312) is a Bulk Carrier built in 2012 (9 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Liberia. Robinson I Shipping Corp is listed as the registered owner of the ship and Eurotankers Inc is listed as the current operator. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnnfXWQ9hUA[/embed]