Ajay Sukumaran for Newindpress

Bangalore, Sep 5: Every sailor on the west coast of the peninsula will tell you that the Arabian Sea is bound to be choppy during the monsoons, but the number of mishaps between June and July this year has surprised even the Coast Guard and the Navy: at least eight merchant vessels ran aground in a gap of 47 days this monsoon while six other vessels met the same fate.

So much so, that the various authorities concerned with shipping, like Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Port Authorities and Directorate General Shipping are proposing a series of measures to reduce the number of mishaps in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as effective ship management.

According to an official, among the most urgent needs are the compulsory reporting of movement by all ships, of 300 tons, entering or leaving the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISSR) and the establishment of a casualty investigation bureau to probe the causes for accident.

The Coast Guard’s INDSAR reporting system tracks ships entering the ISSR.The INDSAR helps co-ordinate Search and Rescue (SAR) operations by identifying vessels closest to the one in distress and releasing others, hence saving time and fuel.

Many Coast Guard and Navy officials are, however, convinced that the trend of mishaps is directly linked to the increasing competition.

“Two vessels sank off Bombay in rough weather when there was no requirement to sail out,” an officer said.

There is a general feeling that the ‘Time is Money’ motto is at the cost of safety.

In 2006, 10 vessels had run aground on the west coast. According to a senior Coast Guard officer, in the long run, the agencies concerned feel the need for legislation to include International Maritime Organis ation (IMO) instruments like container safety conventions, International Mariti - me Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code in ports and ships, World-wide Navigational Warning System and Hazardous Noxious Substance Convention.

Besides this, inspections at ports and communication between port-states about the movement of vessels is being proposed.

The merchant vessels which sunk were carrying furnace slag, steel pipes, ballast and cement besides the ship’s fuel.