Sunken Vessel Hampers Traffic in Cochin Shipping Channel

A fishing boat which sank in the shipping channel in India’s Cochin Harbour is hampering vessel traffic in the area, according to GAC India.

The vessel sank in the morning hours of September 19. It developed a leakage and its engine stopped working while it was some 5 nautical miles off the coast.

After alerting relevant authorities, the fishing boat was to be towed to Thoppumpady harbour. However, it sank when it reached the area between barmouth and Fort Kochi junkar.

All six fishermen from the boat were rescued.

GAC India informed that, following the sinking of the fishing vessel in the main shipping channel at the harbour mouth, Cochin Harbour is unable to handle ships of over 10 meters in draft as the wreck is located close to the center line of the channel. Due to its location, there is not enough width for the bigger ships to pass through.

The contract for removal of the wreck has been entrusted to a private party and they have been engaged in operations to sling the boat lying at the bottom and thereafter lifting the sunken fishing vessel off the bottom to take it out of the dredged shipping channel.

GAC India said that the operations would be resumed as before with full draft once the wreck removal is completed.