India: Tanker ‘Pratibha Cauvery’ Refloated

Five day salvage work on grounded ship MT Pratibha Cauvery concluded yesterday with the assistance of Malavya 21 towing vessel, NDTV reports.

The salvage team from Singapore refloted the tanker from Chennai beach into the Bay of Bengal waters on Sunday without any oil spill from the ship that will stay in the outer anchorage of the Chennai port, Shipping Minister G. K. Vasan said.

The ship had run aground near Chennai’s Besant Nagar beach due to a storm caused by cyclone Nilam two weeks ago. Six seafarers lost their lives after the lifeboat they were escaping with capsized on the way to shore.

MT Pratibha Cauvery will remain in its position in Chennai waters due to an investigation of the ship’s seaworthiness.

[mappress]

World Maritime News Staff, November 12, 2012