KOCHI, NOV 11: A partially `paralysed' Tippu Sultan is all that the islanders of Lakshadweep have for ferrying them through the turbulent waters of Arabian sea to the mainland and back.Confronted by the imminent dry-docking of M V Bharathseema, the second vessel operating between the islands and the mainland, and delay in getting the damaged engine of twin-engine-propelled M V Tippu Sultan repaired, the Lakshadweep administration is learnt to have decided to press the partially functioning vessel with one engine into service. The handicapped vessel is expected to begin its voyage by this week end.Tippu Sultan was put off service on October 16 following the mechanical snag that developed in one of its engines. This also forced the authorities to call off all the earlier announced voyages including tourist packages. An inquiry too has been ordered by the administration into the circumstances that led to the engine failure.During its heyday, Tippu took nearly 17 hours to reach Minicoy from Kochi. Now, with its propulsion power reduced to half, it would need at least 24 hours to cover the same distance.However, no one in the administration is much bothered about the risk involved in forcing the vessel, with one engine and no standby facilities, into open sea.The reduced propulsion power has also forced the authorities to cut short the number of trips and islands covered during each voyage. Earlier, both the vessels together operated a minimum of 10 trips each month covering six islands.The hardship of the islanders already plagued by the shortage of adequate transport facilities would increase further with the dry-docking of M V Bharathseema this week.
