Ships Collide off Mumbai, India Coast
  • 14 years ago
Off the coast of Mumbai, two Panamanian cargo ships collided over the weekend. Now, teams from the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard attempt to contain an oil spill. Here's that story.

Teams from the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard are attempting to contain an oil spill off the coast of Mumbai after two Panamanian cargo ships collided over the weekend.

All crewmembers have been rescued.

One ship, which was carrying a cargo of diesel and lubricant oil capsized, triggering an oil slick.

While efforts are underway to contain the damage, officials say oil was still leaking from the cargo and the slick was likely to spread farther because of the tide and windy conditions.

Scores of containers flung overboard were making navigation difficult and efforts were underway to secure them.

Fishermen fear for their future.

[Hemant Kohli, Fisherman]:
"They are saying don't put your nets (in the sea) for four days because water has been contaminated by oil. Now what will we do?"

Some of the containers from the ship are already close to shore.

The Mumbai port, one of the busiest in the country, has suspended operations.