PANJIM, JUNE 30
Despite the State Government’s efforts, it will take at least three years for the complete removal of M V River Princess, which ran aground off Candolim beach 10 years ago.
Not only time, the removal of the vessel which has already caused enough damage to the beach will cost the State around Rs 125 cr.
Sources told Herald that the bidders have asked for time ranging from nine months to three years to remove the ship.
After unsuccessful bids by Jaisu Shipping Company to tow away the vessel, the State Government early this year decided to float new tenders with only one option of cutting it into pieces.
In all, 12 companies had submitted their bids for the removal the ill-fated vessel which included Jaisu, Salgaocar Mining Company and Madgavkar Salvage besides two foreign companies Titan Salvage and Smith International from Singapore.
Out of these, two have been short-listed — Madgavkar Salvage and Titan Salvage — Director of Tourism Swapnil Naik told Herald.
He said the tender is expected to be allotted in the next meeting of the State Disaster Management Committee scheduled for Friday.
Giving further details, Naik said the companies have asked for time from nine months to three years for removing the ship.
“Even after the tenders are awarded, work will begin only in October due to monsoons and even if you consider the nine-month period it will take one year from now to cut the vessel”, he stated adding “the complete removal will need minimum three years”.
The director, however, did not speak about the financial details of the bids stating “it is still to be checked by the State Disaster Management Committee”.
Sources in the department told Herald that the Singapore-based Titan Salvage had quoted Rs 125 crore for the removal of the ship, with a time period of three years.
“The only hitch in this bid is that the company will cut the vessel and hand over the scrap to the Government”, sources added.
The other company Madgavkar Salvage has given five different options.
Anil Madgavkar of Madgavkar Salvage told Herald he had presented five options to the Government with different rates and time required.
“The first option is to remove the ship upto water level for which we would not charge the Government but will keep the scrap for us; the second is to cut the vessel upto ground level which will cost Rs 25 cr; the third is to cut the ship upto two meters inside the sea bed, costing Rs 45 crore; the fourth is to remove the ship completely for Rs 98 crore and the fifth is to remove the ship completely and replenish the beach at a cost of Rs 125 crore”, he said.
Madgavkar said it is now for the Government to decide on the options stating that the complete removal will take a minimum of three years.
