The transfer of about 35,000 tonnes of crude oil from the tanker, which split into two, has begun, General Manager Karachi Port Trust Brigadier Iftikhar Arshad told AFP.

"We have set up two pumps on a vessel named Fair Jolly anchored near the tanker and started pumping out crude oil," Arshad said.

"Each pump has a capacity of pumping out 400 tonnes crude per hour and the salvage operation will be completed in 10 days," he added.

Karachi Port Trust chief Ahmed Hayat said the 8,000 tonnes capacity vessel needed about 36 hours to fill and transfer the oil to another tanker anchored in the port.

About 12,000 tonnes of oil spilled into the sea from the Greek-registered vessel Tasman Spirit on July 27. The leakage includes 5,000 tonnes of oil meant for propelling the tanker.

Authorities are cleaning 16 kilometres (10 miles) of beachfront littered with dead fish, turtles and mangrove seedlings.

Some 20,000 tonnes of oil was transferred from the ship in a salvage operation before it was abandoned on Wednesday as the vessel began to break up.

A Singaporean C-130 aircraft resumed its operation spraying dispersants on the polluted sea Sunday afternoon.

"So far some 16,000 litres dispersants have been sprayed since this exercise started Friday," Hayat said.

Coastal ecosystems specialist Tahir Qureshi said the authorities should contain the situation now otherwise the damage to marine life would be irreparable.

"The damage has already been done," he said.

"Millions of mangrove seedlings on our eastern coast" have been destroyed, he told AFP.

Residents of Karachi's seafront complained of severe respiratory problems caused by the oil fumes.

The ship's 25-man crew, who left the ship on Tuesday, had been ordered not to leave Karachi while the inquiries are conducted.

The crew includes five Greek nationals and 20 Philippines nationals.

TERRA.WIRE