Adrift Vessel Evades Indian Radar

Authorities will look into how m.v. Pavit, the unmanned, adrift vessel found grounded off the city’s Juhu-Versova beach, evaded the radars of all the three agencies taking care of coastal security — the Navy, the Coast Guard and the marine police.

“We will see in our inquiry why in the 100 hours the ship was in Indian waters, the detection did not happen. The agencies concerned will have to look into it,” Satish Agnihotri, Director-General, Shipping, said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government ordered a high-level probe into incident.

Mr. Agnihotri said that though the DG Shipping was informed in the beginning of July that Indian crew members were rescued from the ship in the Oman Gulf, the western media and the UKMTO (UK Maritime Trade Operations) later reported that the ship had sunk. “Thus we were not very alert about it. We don’t monitor the movement of ships in the Oman Gulf. We monitor it only in the Indian waters,” he said.

Partially afloat

The authorities have now found the ship partially afloat. “The chances of its refloating are greater now. The ship was found floating in high tide on [Tuesday] afternoon,” Mr. Agnihotri said.

He said the Directorate-General of Shipping requested local authorities to issue a notice to the owner and manager of the ship because it had become a public nuisance.

Salvage plan

Mr. Agnihotri said the salvage plan for the ship was not yet ready. “Some technical parameters need to be examined. The salvage operation will start soon, but it is definitely not going to start on Wednesday,” he said.

Pointing out that the ship was not expected to pose any environmental hazard, he said a cursory inspection showed that it was not dilapidated.

“The general condition of the ship seems to be ok. It is not listing. It is floating and it has changed direction. The priority is that we have to avoid any human harm. There is no fear of oil spillage. We are monitoring the ship very closely,” he said.

Asked if the owners would be fined if their ships drifted in this manner, he said the proposal was under consideration.

(TheHindu)

[mappress]

Source: TheHindu, August 3, 2011.