27 May 2023  |   06:13am IST

Captain of Ports completely at sea over new ‘water sport’ in River Mandovi

Cruise boats operating from State-owned jetties offer new thrills and chills to tourists; CoP says activity ‘completely unsafe, safety norms flouted’
Captain of Ports completely at sea over  new ‘water sport’ in River Mandovi

Team Herald


PANJIM: A different kind of ‘water sport’ activity, offering a new thrill, was on display in River Mandovi on Friday as tourists were dropped in the river from cruise boats and were holding on just with the support of a rope tied to the boat.

On Friday afternoon when O Heraldo  team visited the Mandovi riverfront near lighthouse located at Campal, Panjim, it was found that tourists in groups of approximately 20 each were dropped in the middle of the river by three different cruise boats namely ‘Arushi Cruise’ and ‘M V Samraat Cruise PNJ 839’. The third boat had just ‘PNJ 694’ written on it.

Fortunately, all those who were dropped in the river were wearing life- jackets. However questions arise if just life-jackets can ensure safety and security of tourists in the middle of the river? It is pertinent to note that in the middle of a river, the water tends to flow fastest.   

These boats reportedly operate from state-owned jetties and surprisingly the authorities concerned are clueless about this kind of water sports activity being carried out in the Mandovi river.

Speaking to O Heraldo, a senior officer of the Captain of Ports (CoP) department said that his department has not given any permission to cruise boat operators for any such activities. He said that CoP will launch an inquiry and take necessary action against the operators.

“Operators of cruise boats cannot endanger the lives of people by engaging them in such illegal activities. It doesn’t matter if they were wearing life jackets, looking at the video shared by you I can say that the activity carried out by them is completely unsafe. I feel the operators have flouted the safety norms. We will investigate, seek an explanation from the cruise boat operators, examine their say and initiate action accordingly,” the CoP officer said.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar