Dredging sand to rescue a stranded thousand-ton ship in Cua Lo.

(Baonghean.vn) - The Nghe An Maritime Port Authority is pumping sand from inside the Thai Ha 26 cargo ship to rescue it, while also encircling it with buoys to prevent the oil from spreading.

On the morning of July 22nd, the Nghe An Maritime Port Authority mobilized personnel and equipment to pump sand from inside the Thai Ha 26 vessel, which is currently stranded at Cua Lo beach. This is one of four large cargo ships that ran aground at Cua Lo beach and on the Lam River due to Typhoon No. 2 five days prior.

A thousand-ton ship runs aground on Cua Lo beach. Photo: Tien Hung.

According to Mr. Vo Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town, at noon on July 18, officials from the town, in coordination with the Provincial Environmental Protection Department, went directly to the area where the ships were in distress.

“When we inspected the Thai Ha 26 vessel, we discovered an oil slick. The ship has a tonnage of over a thousand tons, and although there was no cargo on board at the time, there were over 10,000 liters of oil in the engine compartment. Concerned that the oil might spill into the sea and cause pollution, we urgently reported the incident to the province and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment,” Mr. Hung recounted.

A close-up view of the stranded ship Thai Ha 26. Photo: Tien Hung

At this time, Cua Lo town also suggested that the ship owner hire a vehicle to pump out all the remaining oil from the engine compartment and remove it from the beach area.

A task force from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment then arrived and used buoys to contain the oil spills. “The task force determined that these oil spills were only from the engine and not from the 10,000 liters in the hold. Since then, there have been no further oil spills from the ship,” Mr. Hung added.

Tien Hung