Thaindian News

Mumbai Aug. 17 (IANS) Ten days after two foreign cargo vessels collided outside Mumbai harbour, shipping activities have normalised to a large extent despite the threats from floating or submerged containers, maritime officials said here Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the Indian Navy escorted two ship convoys and five other vessels from the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) and another seven vessels from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Similarly, the navy escorted three incoming ships to the MPT and 10 to the JNPT.

So far, in the past 10 days, the navy has helped pilot out 63 ships and escorted in 71 ships.

According to officials, in normal times, an average of around 35 large ships, besides scores of smaller vessels, use the main shipping channel daily.

Presently, vessels beyond a draft (portion of ship that remains underwater) of 12.5 metres are not being allowed inside or outside the two ports on account of the risk of the containers around.

Meanwhile, nine more containers fell of the Panamanian ship, MSC Chitra, which remains grounded after it collided with a St. Kitts vessel, MV Khalijia-III.

While four containers were retrieved by the concerned authorities, four of the missing containers are suspected to be loaded with sodium hydroxide and another with solid pesticides, posing a threat to sea and land pollution.

However, an aerial survey by the Coast Guard and naval survey boats did not reveal the sighting of any floating containers in the vicinity.

So far, the navy and Coast Guard have succeeded in identifying six sunken containers near the main shipping channel and another eight floating at various other locations that have been marked to warn navigating vessels.

A team of salvers from SMIT International, Singapore, which was planning to board MSC Chitra Tuesday, postponed it as they suspected the possibility of more containers falling into the ship’s hold.

They have done a thorough check of the deck and hold areas before attempting operations like removing the remaining oil on board or stabilizing the ship.