(UPDATED) AG advises stakeholders on cost recovery from MT New Diamond Operation

The Attorney General met with the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy , Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority , Director General of Merchant Shipping & Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority to review & advise on issues arising from the fire on the MT New Diamond, confirmed State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General.

State Counsel Jayaratne said the meeting lasted for around 03 hours and the stakeholders were advised to coordinate and prepare and estimate of the cost incurred by, and the loss caused to the Government of Sri Lanka.

MEPA was advised to visit the site of the distressed MT New Diamond and conduct an investigation to ascertain if any damage was caused to the marine environment as a result of the blaze.

The Attorney General had strongly advised authorities to ensure COVID-19 prevention guidelines are strictly followed when International Experts are flow to the country.

AG Dappula De Livera had stressed to prepare an estimate on an environmental damage in the event of an oil spill does take place and to prepare necessary disaster management protocols.

MT New Diamond, an oil tanker sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point east of Sri Lanka issued a distress signal on3rd September 2020.

The distressed oil tanker in eastern seas was manned by 23 crew members including 5 Greeks and 18 Philippine nationals.

Further, the tanker was transporting 270,000 metric tons of crude oil from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip, when it faced this unfortunate event.

It is also reported that 1700 metric tons of diesel required for the use of the tanker is also stored onboard.

MT New Diamond is a 20-year old crude oil tanker that is 333 meters long and 60 meters wide, and sailed with a Japanese certificate and is registered in Panama.