Mangaluru, May 10: Indian Naval Ship ‘Kolkata’ today arrived at New Mangalore Port carrying 40 metric tonnes of medical oxygen filled in ISO tanks from Kuwait.
It also carried five tonnes of oxygen cylinders and four high flow oxygen concentrators. The vessel arrived at berth number 7 and the work of unloading the tanks is in progress. The distribution of the oxygen will be decided by the state government.
As part of the Samudra Setu -II, the Indian Naval ship had recently reached Port Shuwaikh in Kuwait to get liquid medical oxygen and other medical items to India.
Earlier, ‘INS Talwar,’ carrying 40 metric tonnes (MT) of liquid medical oxygen filled in ISO cryogenic containers had arrived at the New Mangalore Port (NMP) on May 6.
Kuwait has so far sent a total of 215 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen to India and it plans to supply up to 1,400 tonnes to help the country deal with an acute shortage of the life-saving gas in view of surging cases of coronavirus infections.
The ambassador said the Kuwaiti government is committed to supply 1400 MT of liquid medical oxygen to India. Kuwait is among very few countries which are supplying the liquid medical oxygen (LMO) to India in view of sky-rocketing demand for the gas.
"We are solidly standing with India in its fight against COVID-19. We will continue to assist it," Al Najem said.
On May 4, a Kuwait air force aircraft brought to India 40 tonnes of relief items which included 282 oxygen cylinders, 60 oxygen concentrators, ventilators, medicines and other essential medical equipment.
The Kuwaiti embassy said a commercial vessel, MV CAPT Kattelmann, carrying a total 75 metric tonnes of liquid medical oxygen and 1,000 cylinders is on its way from Kuwaiti port of Al-Shuaiba and the ship is also expected to arrive in India today.
"Furthermore, two Indian Navy ships, INS Kochi and INS Tabar, departed from Shuwaikh port with 100 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen and 1,400 oxygen cylinders and are expected to arrive in Mumbai, on May 11," it said.
The ambassador said all the four ships are bringing to India 215 MT oxygen (LMO) and 2,600 oxygen cylinders.
"This sea-bridge of medical aid will continue to operate and the Kuwaiti government is committed to transport 1400 MT of liquid medical oxygen soon from Kuwait to India," said Al Najem.
The Indian Navy has already deployed nine warships to bring liquid medical oxygen and other supplies from several countries in Persian Gulf and south-east Asia.
Al Najem said Kuwait has been supplying liquid oxygen to countries like Jordan and Iraq and it stands ready to extend a helping hand to India to meet with the shortfall.
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