Decision to cut Princess would be a big blunder: Capt Mehta
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, APRIL 26
When the State government has finally made up its mind to cut the grounded M V River Princess, a Vasco-based Sea Reliance Marine Service Pvt Ltd, one of the bidders in recently floated tender to cut the ship, which will be opened on Tuesday, claimed that an eventual decision of the technical committee to cut the stranded vessel would result into a big blunder.
Chairman and managing director of Sea Reliance Marine Service Pvt Ltd Capt Virendra Mehta with his innovation has proficient professional profile of master mariner for over two decades, R&D with US patent ballast water technology.
Mehta has claimed that cutting of the ship would be a big blunder, as it is not a permanent solution.
“With the cutting of the ship, one has to ensure that the bottom portion of the ship is removed, in fact, that is the major cause of concern. If the bottom portion is not removed, then it is as good as to allow the ship to be grounded, as the bottom portion is causing more harm to the beach belt,” said Capt Mehta.
“The 19,361 metric tonne vessel has most of its body on an average 13 metre below the sea level. These ships are bottom heavy, which means over 12000-15000 tonnes are below sea and on the contrary some 60,000 tonnes of sand is on its bottom, which means a tough task for underwater cutting,” said Mehta.
“Right from generators, engines and most of the equipments are very well submerged in the ship and if one could remove the machinery, then one has to float the ship easily,” added Mehta.
When asked since the issue is at a saturation point, as earlier twice the floating and towing of ship efforts have failed, he blamed the technical committee saying that since the last one decade, the ship is lying and someone has to take the blame.
When asked for the reason why he bid for the re-floating of the ship, despite knowing that the tender is for cutting of the ship, he said he has personal experience on the issue and technology use to re-float it and he has strong belief that the ship can be towed away.
He said he has given a detailed presentation to the technical committee, North Goa Collector, on April 19, who are quite convinced with it.
“I have agreed to share my technology provided the government signs the ‘Non Discloser Agreement’, which they are not ready to do,” he said.
