Marine

2.9, search for toxic chemical call off

Solomon Islands: the search for the toxic cargo carried by the sunken general cargo vessel Ocean Papa was called off by Oceanic Container Lines Inc which owns the vessel. The company said the search operations would be stopped for the remaining 20-foot container containing the toxic chemical toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) because of the risk of diving in deeper waters. Ocean Papa was carrying 148 20-foot containers when it sank due to strong winds and rough seas on Jun 21. Around 61 containers were recovered but divers and vessels with sonar equipment failed to locate one container with around 80 sealed drums of at least 16 tonnes of TDI. The substance is a main ingredient in the production of flexible polyurethane foam and is used in manufacturing synthetic leather, coated fabrics, paints and adhesives. The chemical can cause severe irritation of the skin and eyes, and affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems if inhaled or ingested.