Haldia (WB): With Indonesian cargo vessel M V Sigitika Biru remaining in the same position, the work of offloading soda ash and diesel from the vessel, grounded 50 kms off Haldia port, was yet to begin.

A Dornier surveillance coast guard aircraft made a sortie over the area around 8.00 am (IST) on May 17 and saw there was no change in the position of the ship, still laden with 5,300 tonne of soda ash and 150 tonne of diesel, coast guard commandant R K Wadhwa said.

He said as of now, water around the grounded vessel remained unpolluted by the chemical and fuel contents, but the Coast Guard was trying to facilitate the salvage operation by co-ordinating with the ship's agents and its Indonesian owner.

"We have information that the owner has terminated contract with the Kolkata agent who was supposed to maintain the old ship," Wadhwa said.

He said the 22-member crew, currently put up in Haldia after being rescued by the Coast Guard on May 16, have been questioned about the incident.

"Whether they have entered the country unauthorised can be checked only by the immigration authorities," the official said to a question.

Another Dornier aircraft will fly over the site towards evening, Wadhwa said.

The ship cannot sink as the depth of the area is not more than 10 metres, he said.

The ship, sailing from Porbander in Gujarat to Chittagong in Bangladesh, was damaged after it hit the sandheads, about 30 kms off Haldia port and ran aground on May 15 evening.

PTI