Efforts on to avoid oil spill from dhows

The Dubai Mcunicipality on Thursday said it is still on alert to avoid any oil spill in the creek nearly a month after it started recovery operations on two burnt dhows, which officials hope will be towed away from creek in three days. What started as a small fire in a smaller boat spread to the other anchored adjacent to it on February 18. Goods including cars, tyres, electronics, textiles and other flammable materials were gutted. The smaller boat also contained over 150 barrels of petrol. Director-General of the municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah on Thursday said the civic body had made great efforts to lift the debris and get rid of them to ensure that no pollution happens to the surroundings. The municipality began the recovery operations after the fire was put out by the Civil Defence team. With the help of the police, the Civil Defence had also rescued an Indian worker from the fire. Recovery efforts have been on full swing ever since strong winds blew away the two dhows to the Bur Dubai side of the creek from the Deira side. As a large quantity of oil was found in the remnants of cargo boats, the municipality has taken every possible measure and mechanism to safely dispose it of without causing any chances for environment pollution. Director of the Environmental Emergencies Office Khaled Salem Suleiteen said the municipality was on alert not to allow the oil get mixed with the creek water. He said the operations started by the municipality have been successful so far. “Further, we have made terms with other private companies to complement us on the drive,” he said. The larger dhow, half of which had sunk, is now floating. However, operations are on to remove the water trapped inside. “We have brought tanks with a capacity of 10,000 gallons for removing the water accumulated inside the vessels. We are on alert not to mix the oil with creek water,” said Suleiteen. The official said the municipality has invited Dubai Engineering and Shipbuilding Company that specialises in maritime transport, to assist the civic body in the efforts. The company has deployed three crane ships to lift bulky waste, to be transported later to the municipality’s landfill safely. Assistant Director-General of Health, Safety and Environment Monitoring Sector Salem bin Mesmar told Khaleej Times that the burnt vessels are expected to be towed away to a yard near Jeddah within three days. “The big dhow has to be towed by a barge, I think. The owner has to decide whether to transport the small dhow by sea or land. We hope we can take them off the creek waters within three days if the weather is conducive,” he said.