Watch: Oil Tanker remains aground in Tarkwa Bay Beach 3 weeks gone

It is over three weeks now that an Oil Tanker known as ‘Breakthrough’ has been sighted aground in Tarkwa Bay Beach in Lagos, and the concerns are the environmental and safety hazards it poses to the area.

Investigations revealed that the vessel, with the identification (IMO: 9095723) built in 2006, has a capacity of 7032 DWT and 6 meters draught with length overall  of (LOA) 109 meters and 16.8 meters in width.

Speaking on the development, Marine engineer, Emmanuel Ilori, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Ship Registry Reform Committee, was displeased with the situation that the vessel remained aground without any given attention in over three weeks.

He said: “It is sad that a ship went aground on the Tarkwa bay beach since 3 weeks ago. This is a major incident yet, no attention to it. If it was a plane there would have been explanation on how it happened. What is the role of the government agencies? Ministry of transportation, NIMASA, and the ship owners.”

Ilori expressed concern of the environmental and ecological threat as well the effect on tourism, as he wondered about the committed to the growth and development of the industry.

A source at NIMASA said the Agency was aware of the development with the vessel, whose owner had issues with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

According to the source, salvaging such asset is the responsibility of the owner, but that AMCON had been in touch with NIMASA with plans for the salvage effort.