Team Herald
VASCO: The towing of the grounded Nu-Shi Nalini has not ended the saga of the ship. Mormugao Port Trust on Thursday confirmed that it would store the naphtha that is on board the ship at the Ganesh Benzoplast cargo storage facility at Bogda-Headland Sada.
This led to protests, as Urban Development Minister Milind Naik and Sada residents objected to the chemical being stored at this facility.
On Thursday evening, MPT in a press release revealed that the naphtha has already been sold to the highest bidder through MSTC (a government of India PSU) through online bidding and that Customs clearances have also been obtained.
It said that as an intermediate arrangement, the cargo will be stored at the Ganesh Benzoplast Tank Farm (the only facility of suitable ‘Class’ in the area) for further transportation by the successful bidder.
“As an abundant precaution, on the insistence of MPT, the GBL pipelines have been tested and certified by Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) on November 28, 2019 and tanks have also been tested and certified by the PESO competent authorities the same day. The operation is continuing with utmost care in handling and storing of cargo,” MPT said.
The statement further said that on Wednesday night, the expert team of Marine Masters successfully re-floated and towed the vessel Nu-Shi Nalini to Berth No. 8 of MPT.
It further stated that on December 10, the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Admiralty and Vice Admiralty Jurisdiction and its Commercial Division, ordered the schedule auctioning of the vessel by the Court Sheriff.
According to the order, by December 12, 2019 the exercise of removing the cargo on board the vessel was to be completed and by December 13, 2019, the vessel is to be made available for inspection.
“Accordingly, timely unloading of cargo started to comply with the schedule of High Court. As per the order, by the next date of hearing, that is on January 3, 2020, the ship is to be auctioned,” the statement said.
