Pics by Kalakruti
Daijiworld Media Network Goa
Panaji, Jun 13: Friday the 13th proved lucky for Andheri Nagri. It was fare-well for the transhipper on Caranzalem beach as the tug vessel Pyarelal successfully pulled it clear from its position and ended its 14-day ‘stay’ after it drifted to the shore on May 31.
The ship narrowly missed being ‘arrested’ by the authorities after the actual operation to pull the bottomless dumb barge weighing 2,800 metric tonnes approximately, began at 4.30 pm.
After the tug started pulling it around, the operation lasted barely an hour. This marked the end of high drama at Caranzalem beach involving the ports administration minister, captain of ports, fishermen and other officials.
The ports administration Ministry had initiated the process to seize the vessel on Wednesday, invoking provisions of Indian Ports Acts, 1908 and the order received the last signature just before the tug started pulling the 80 mm rope. A police party had been arranged to carry out the operation to seize the vessel.
Before the ink could dry on the document in the CoP officials’ hands, the ship was already over the waves, sourcessay.
But sources in the Ministry stated that an inquiry will be initiated to book the firm owning the vessel in connection with the drifting of the vessel to the shore, recovery of compensation for losses caused to fishermen, environmental damage done to the coast under the Environment Protection Act and other damages that are to be ascertained. The vessel without any engine is being taken to Jaigad port to safe anchorage, 350 km by road beyond Ratnagiri and 30 hours by sea. “In Jaigad, she will be in sheltered waters,” an official of Salgaocar Mining Industries, the firm owning the ship said. Times of India was first to report the appearance of the vessel ashore at Miramar.
The operation had failed on Wednesday as the knot came off while the tug pulled Andheri Nagri, the official claimed.
“The rough weather made the operation difficult, but we are grateful to the local people as they were co-operative,” he told TOI. The transhipper’s owners had sought the permission of the Momugao Port Trust, but the board of directors had refused it, citing some reason.