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Tanker fined for oil discharge on sea

A fine of Rs.15 million has been charged by the Maritime Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) due to the illegal careless discharge of oil from the 'Global Crest em route from Kelang to the United Arab Emirates in the Sri Lankan maritime zone on Jan 26, 2024. The Analysts of the CLS Institute of France informed the officials of the Maritime Environment Protection Authority that they had been able to confirm via satellite technology that an illegal oil discharge had been carried out on Feb 4, by the tanker, causing an oil slick with a length of 11.25 kilometers over an area of approximately 1 square kilometer. Maritime Environment Protection Authority officers investigated the ship’s route and later confirmed that it was heading towards the outer port of Colombo. Maritime Environment Protection Authority officers acted immediately and contacted the Sri Lankan agent of the ship and took the necessary steps to inspect the ship. In the night of Feb 6, a team of special officers of the Maritime Environment Protection Authority inspected it, while it was anchored about 11 nautical miles from Colombo. It was possible to confirm that the 'Global Crest' had illegally discharged oil. Later, MEPA issued a Detention Order against the ship and steps were taken to inform the Merchant Marine Secretariat, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, the Sri Lanka Port Authority and the Sri Lankan agent of the ship. According to Section 26 of the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act No. 35 of 2008, the Marine Environmental Protection Authority has the power to impose a fine of up to Rs.15 million on the responsible parties in case of such illegal oil discharge or oil spill. The 'Global Crest' was ordered to pay a fine of Rs.15 million and the amount spent to inspect the ship to the Authority. On Feb 9, after the ship had paid the fine and expenses incurred by MEPA, steps were taken to release it from the detention order. For the first time, Sri Lanka relied on satellite technology from the French company CLS to incriminate a United Arab Emirates-flagged oil tanker responsible for pollution off the Sri Lankan coast. The country signed a partnership with CLS in September to monitor its territorial waters. Report with photo: https://www.dailynews.lk/2024/02/17/admin-catagories/breaking-news/403186/mt-global-crest-fined-rs-15-mn-for-careless-oil-discharge/