US firm to start pumping out oil from sunken ship

A team of experts from the Florida-based Resolve Marina Group reached Paradip on Oct 18. The team, comprising safety engineers and underwater divers among others, completed the survey before starting pumping out the oil.
"I have spoken to the expert team. They have completed the primary plan for pumping out of oil. They will start pumping out oil from Friday," said Biplab Kumar, deputy chairman of Paradip Port Trust.

Meanwhile, the state pollution control board has expressed concern over the oil spillage and the pollution that would be caused during pumping out the oil. It has sent two scientists to Paradip to discuss pollution issues.
However, the port authorities have dismissed such fears.
"The group is a very professional group. It has the requisite expertise and the oil will be evacuated safely," he added.

The vessel MV Black Rose, carrying about 25,000 tonnes of iron ore fines and 975 tonnes of furnace oil, capsized in the Bay of Bengal, five km off the Paradip coast Sep 9.

Various wildlife groups have raised concerns about the possible environmental damage the oil leakage could cause.

The site where the ship has gone down is very close to the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, one of the few remaining nesting sites in the world for the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.