OIL SPILL RESPONSE CAPABILITIES OF SLCG SHIPS

SLCG fleet consists of two Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) SLCGS Samudra Raksha and SLCGS Samaraksha donated by the Government of Japan under maritime capability improvement project. Both FPVs are equipped with limited oil spill response capabilities for recovery and dispersing oil spills.

The oil spill response equipment available on board Includes oil booms, oil skimmers, chemical oil spill dispersant gears, 3000 litres Fast Tanks for storage of collected oil and Boom laying davits. Moreover, the FPVs manned by a trained oil spill response teams with experience in engaging a number of oil spill response operations.

Both FPVs actively participated in responding recent maritime disasters such as fire onboard MT New Diamond off Sangamankanda, MV Euro Sun ran aground off Little Basses reef, and also in the incident of stricken vessel MV X-press Pearl off Colombo.

In the event of MT New Diamond, SLCGS Samudra Raksha and SLCGS Samaraksha deployed for oil spill response and surveillance off the East Coast of Sri Lanka from Batticaloa to Kiridioya. In addition, ships also assisted transferring firefighting chemicals (AFFF) from shore to units engaged in firefighting.

Further, distressed vessel MV Euro Sun which ran aground off Little Basses reef was assisted with oil spill surveillance, oil samples collection and diving support operation off Little Basses reef.

Similarly, In the event of stricken vessel MV “X–Press Pearl”, SLCGS Samudra Raksha and SLCGS Samaraksha engaged in oil spill response operations in coordination with Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Coast Guard to minimize marine environment pollution and to avert an ecological disaster.

Presently, both FPVs are ready at Colombo harbour for any oil spill response operation at sea complying the encrusted task of SLCG as the first responder as per National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCOP).