The alarm was raised by Goan fishermen returning to Vasco.

In a statement the Mormugao Port Trust Deputy Conservator Anil Panjwani said, “The leakage took place from the vessel ‘Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon PVC’ owned by the Shipping Corporation of India. The cargo was for Hindustan Petroleum and was being transferred to the IOC tankers as they have more capacity to store.”

A source in the Goa police, speaking in anonymity to the Indian media, “While some 3,000-5,000 litres of kerosene spilled into the sea, the oil leak has been neutralised for which concerted efforts by the MPT, fire brigade and oil company authorities continued till the early hours of Saturday morning.”

Operations from the vessel have stopped. IOC and Hindustan Petroleum have yet to comment on the various reports.