Mystery behind gas containers washing ashore solved

Mystery behind gas containers washing ashore solved

Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod, July 29, 2013 : The mystery behind the gas containers that were washed ashore at several places in Kasargod district last week, has been solved  with officials confirming that the gas containers were from the  vessel ‘MOL Comfort’ that had capsized off the Salalah Coast at Oman on June 17.

 Meanwhile, the District Administration intends to transport the gas containers to Mangalore Port at the earliest and has sought the help of the Indian Navy.

 MOL Comfort belonging to Mitsui OSK Lines of Tokyo had caught fire after it’s capsize.  A team from the company comprising  surveyor Capt. Allen Lobo,  Insurance Department Officer Harsha D’Souza and forensic expert Sachidananda visited Kasargod and other places including Kumble Berike, Kottikulam and Mogral Nangi to examine the gas containers  as well as several other goods like refrigerators which had washed ashore.

It has been learnt that each  gas container had fuel worth Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh while in total their value was put at Rs 3 crores.  The content  was chlorodifluoromethane or propane-22 used for refrigerators having high value in the market. It is learnt the gas was banned by several nations.

Officials also said that the gas containers found in Kasargod contained fuel worth Rs 3 crore, each carrying fuel worth Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Each of the container had a capacity to store 24,300 litres of refrigerated gas.