JEBHA: The Indian supertanker which ran aground off the Mediterranean Coast, spilling 3.9 million: gallons of oil into the Red Sea, was refloated after running aground a second time, shipping sources said Wednesday.
The 276,744ton Kanchenjunga was refloated Tuesday without damage of further oil spills off the Saudi Red Sea Port of Gizan, Gulf based sources said.
Maritime authorities in the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah said two tugs initially brought in to stabilize the vessel had to tow it about 7 miles, Authorities did not give a reason for the second accident.
The Indian tanker first ran aground April 27 off Jeddah, spilling 3.9 million gallons of Iraqi crude oil into the Red Sea and leaving a slick nearly 60 miles long.
Pay Damages
None of the tanker’s 69 crew members was injured in the first accident, which the Jeddah port authority blamed on the yes sell’s Indian skipper, saying he used outdated charts, sailed an unauthorized route and only radioed for help eight hours after his tanker ran aground. Saudi authorities said the master of the Bombay bound tanker would not be allowed to sail until the owners of this vessel, the state-owned SCI paid for the damage caused to marine life by the accident.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 19, 1989
