ABG Shipyard constructing 3 vessels to prevent oil spills

ABG Shipyard is constructing three 'Special Pollution Control Vessels' for the Indian Coast Guard which are capable of absorbing oil spread at the sea due to the spills.

The vessels also discharge water to reduce the oil spread. The estimated cost of these vessels is Rs 380 crore. These vessels are equipped with oil spill response solutions.

Over 40 per cent of the total oil tankers move close to the Indian coast line and a pose pollution threat.The major oil spill disasters such as Exxon Valdez, Erika and Prestige and the recent oil spill off at the Karachi Port has prompted the government to take some measures to prevent such incidents.

For this project, ABG Shipyard has teamed up with British defence product company Rolls-Royce for designing the first of its kind vessel which can ply in ocean and river coast.

"We have tied up with Rolls-Royce for the basic design and certain equipments to construct these vessels which will separate the oil from the sea at the time of spill thereby reducing any disaster," said Rishi Agarwal, managing director, ABG Shipyard.

Agarwal said the 83 metre long vessels will also have a helipad in the vessel.

The vessels, which are under construction, would also have rescue operations and medical assistance facilities.