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 ship MT Global Crest.
On January 26, the MT Global Crest ship, which was traveling from Kelang Port in Malaysia to the United Arab Emirates, carried out this illegal oil discharge in the Sri Lankan maritime zone.
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 February 4, by the Global Crest ship which had been traveling on the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
It was confirmed that it was an oil slick with a length of 11.25 km and this oil slick was observed to be an oil layer spread over an area of approximately 1 square kilometer.
Maritime Environment Protection Authority officers had investigated the ship’s route and later confirmed that the ship was heading towards the outer Port of Colombo. Maritime Environment Protection Authority officers had acted immediately and contacted the Sri Lankan agent of the ship and taken the necessary steps to inspect the ship. On the night of February 6, a team of special officers of the Maritime Environment Protection Authority had gone to the ship and inspected it. At that time, the MT Global Crest ship had been anchored about 11 nautical miles away from Colombo port and it was possible to confirm that the Global Crest ship 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.
Accordingly, MT Global Crest was ordered to pay a fine of Rs.15 million and the amount spent to inspect the ship to the Authority. On February 9, after the Global Crest ship had paid the relevant fine and expenses incurred by MEPA, steps were taken to release the ship from the detention order.
These satellite analysis images are provided by the CLS (Collected Localization satellite) Institute and according to the agreement signed with the Marine Environmental Protection Authority and CLS Institute, these satellite analysis images are provided for a period of one year. Maritime Environment Protection Authority Chairman Attorney Asela Rekawa stated that the success of this project is evident through being able to take action against the Global Crest ship, while this also reflects the need for a long-term project with this kind of international co-operation.