Tasman Spirit starts tilting

Staff Report

KARACHI: The Tasman Spirit started tilting on Friday morning and took an 11-degree tilt to starboard by the evening, increasing the threat of more oil being spilled.

Karachi Port Trust officials expect to empty the ship on Saturday night, 33 days after the ship ran aground. “Small quantities of oil leaked during the day,” the KPT stated in an official handout.

But the ship also has about 350 tonnes of furnace oil used for its fuel and 32 tonnes of lubricants, paints and fuel batteries. KPT officials said the tanker began tilting on Friday morning.

Brigadier (r) Arshad of KPT said “The threat of it tilting more is a real one.” Salvagers brought out 4,000 tonnes on Friday while about 4,000 tonnes remain on the ship.

Experts say the ship has started rolling due to lack of a sufficient amount of ballast and may not stay afloat for very long.

Home | National