Cyclone Tauktae: Aground at Palghar, barge wreckage raises oil leak fears
A “sheen” of oil reported by the Coast Guard at Valrai Rocks off Palghar where ONGC off shore accommodation barge Gal Constructor ran aground during Cyclone Tauktae has raised fears that a large amount of diesel stored on it has begun leaking into the sea.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) and Director General (Shipping) have issued notices to AFCONS, the company that was operating the vessel for ONGC.
When Cyclone Tauktae struck earlier this month, the four-deck Gal Constructor anchored offshore near Alibaug started drifting several nautical miles in Palghar and got stranded there. All the 137 crew members were rescued by the Coast Guard.
