The re-flotation of the forward section of the grounded oil tanker Tasman Spirit has been achieved.
This was stated by the Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Vice-Admiral Ahmed Hayat, in an interview with the APP on Friday.
He said that the front section of the vessel was to be taken to the Gadani on the 5th of this month but owing to some problems with the payment of the customs duty etc it was delayed.
The KPT chief pointed out that as soon the problem of customs duty is settled, the forward section of Tasman Spirit will be taken away to Gadani.
The front portion has already been auctioned at a sum of Rs 24 million.
It was further stated that as soon as the shifting of front section to Gadani is accomplished, work will start on the rear portion and it is expected that this will take another six weeks.
The vessel, a crude oil tanker, was built at Onomichi Dockyard Company Limited, Japan, in 1979, registered in Valletta, Malta, and classed with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai.
Tasman Spirit grounded in the Keamari Channel here in July last year and subsequently, broke into two parts. The forward section extends from frame No. 76 forward to the stem and is calculated to have approximately a lightweight of about 5647 tonnes.
Admiral Ahmed Hayat opined that it is very important that the front portion is shifted to Gadani immediately 'because we are working against time'.
He pointed out that the monsoon season is to set in about one and half months time. "Therefore, we do not have too much time to waste."
The KPT chief said: "We have requested the CBR at the highest level to expedite the matter and hoped that it would be resolved soon."
"As soon as we get the green signal, the PNI Club is willing to put all guarantees- financial as well as bank, and then we will be able to do this," he remarked.
Admiral Ahmed Hayat said that an international firm, Smit, a salvage company that is based in Holland, has brought in two tugs and two other vessels one of which can submerge also. The firm also has a crane that can lift up to 1,000 tonnes. "They are getting another crane that can lift up to 1,600 tonnes to undertake job on rear portion of the vessel."
"So it is in the safe hands," he said, adding, "Very soon you will be seeing that the front portion would be going to Gadani and in another six weeks the entire operation would be over."
The KPT chief pointed out that the rear portion would also be auctioned and it will also go to Gaddani.
However, he pointed out that the auction is undertaken by the PNI Club and the Smit. 'The KPT is not at all involved in it'.
Admiral Ahmed Hayat said: "The port channel is clear and that the Tasman Spirit was immediately outside the channel." In another six weeks, all the wreckage of the grounded vessel would be removed.