Deserted ship poses threat to ONGC pipelines

Tethered to its anchor, the abandoned ship floating off the coast presents several possible maritime hazards. “It could run aground, sink or even collide with other vessels,” a senior naval official told Express Newsline.“Bad” replied a merchant navy captain when asked about the state of the the Sea Empress. Many of the ship’s papers were not in order when she was inspected by private surveyors in Mumbai two months ago. Approved stability books and tank sounding books – vital for knowing about the cargo state – were found missing.

Salvage experts suggested that the Indian Navy could take over the ship and tow it away to safety. At the time of going to the press, the ship’s Mumbai agents, Unimarine Shipping, were awaiting instructions on salvaging the ship from the Dubai-based owner Iqbal Bayat of the Bayat International group of companies.

Meanwhile, the MMD has commenced a preliminary enquiry into the incident after interviewing the 19 crew members. “We are trying to find out what exactly happened and why the ship’s engines failed?” Principal Officer, MMD, Sanjay Chakrabarty told Express Newsline.

According to sources, ships usually ferry highly corrosive sulphur cargo when they reach the end of their useful lives. “Normally, an owner will not allow a ship to carry sulphur cargo unless it is over 15 years old,” a merchant navy captain said.

Shipping circles in Mumbai were unperturbed by the Sea Empress incident. The pathetic condition of ships entering the country’s largest port and the virtual lack of stringent regulations and monitoring agencies have ensured regular maritime disasters in the last one year, turning the city’s western coast into a graveyard of rusted hulks. Two vessels have sunk and three have been grounded off the coast.

“It is about time the Director General of Shipping (DGS) and MMD take serious note of this problem and not let the approaches to Mumbai harbour be congested with sunken vessels,” said a senior naval officer.

Nearly 11 vessels which ran aground off the city coast last year were over 25 years old, miserably maintained and on their way to the scrapyard. Prime examples include the Mariner II grounded off Worli and the Al Hadi, which broke up and sank with a cargo of over 15,000 tonnes of sulphur off the coast. The MMD, which is tasked with certifying the condition of ships entering the port, is hopelessly understaffed.

“We have only 8 surveyors for both the Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru ports, as against a requirement of at least 30,” said Principal Officer Chakrabarty. He added that with 25 ships in port at any given time, a thorough inspection of each ship required four hours.Citing the example of the St Vincent flagged `Wimco Pioneer’ that had been issued a detention letter by the MMD for poor maintenance on Friday, he added that such ships were usually operated by fly by night operators who were in the business only for a quick buck. “We must send out a message that you cannot bring rust buckets into the country,” he added.