MV Nu-Shi Nalini, which drifted from the Mormugao Port Trust outer anchorage to get grounded off Dona Paula coast in the month of October in the wake of Cyclone Kyarr, finally left the Dona Paula shore on the night of December 11, 2019 and was towed back to MPT. While Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has been at the receiving end for the last 48 days for the inability of the government to remove the ship with its dangerous cargo of 2000 litres of naphtha, he also deserves appreciation for the removal of the ship. Despite the threat that the ship posed, the Chief Minister had maintained throughout that there was no danger as the cargo tanks were being daily inerted by nitrogen to keep the level of oxygen low. He also maintained that the ship was encircled with booms to contain any possible oil spill.
The Chief Minister chaired three meetings at MPT and also with DG Shipping to see that the danger was averted. What was important was that while people expressed various fears, the government did not lose its cool. The Chief Minister was adamant that a professional salvor should be employed to refloat the ship and eventually that was done. The government was aware that removing the ship would not be possible by local salvors as on November 3, after much preparation, a trial run was conducted to unload naphtha, however, the run was abandoned when some shuddering sound was noticed in the tug boats. After the initial failures, on November 4, the government decided to hire professional salvors.The Ministry of Shipping then constituted a committee to select a professional salvor to carry out the operation.
However, the danger has not been completely averted as the naphtha still remains stored in the ship’s containers, which is now docked at the busy MPT, a port that receives several cruise ships with thousands of tourists, besides other traffic. It is still not clear whether the Customs, which had initially denied permission of transferring of naphtha until the customs duty was paid, will allow the transfer now. Also, there is no clarity on how the owners or the agents intend to transfer the naphtha as transporting the highly flamable chemical by road will lead to taking a major risk.
Surprisingly, despite the re-floating of the ship, MPT is yet to issue any statement clearing the doubts of the citizens on the transfer of naphtha and where it will now be taken. The ship cannot go anywhere as the engines have been seized, so the naphtha has to be absorbed in the State. The fact remains that Canacona Hydrocarbons, which was supposed to receive the consignment, has no mandate to recycle such hazardous chemical. A Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) inspection report had observed that the naphtha was to be transported to Canacona Hydrocarbon, which does not have the authorisation to handle such hazardous chemicals. The Chief Minister has now said that the naphtha will be transferred to another ship. But what is the process that will be followed?
The question that now arises is why was naphtha-laden ship brought to Goa and for who was the consignment meant? While the ship has been refloated, the Sawant government has to now initiate an inquiry to nail those who allowed the ship with its dangerous cargo to come and drop anchor at MPT. DG Shipping will inquire into the episode, but will it name those responsible? If that is true, Sawant must act and bring the guilty to book, as by allowing the ship to be brought to Goa the lives of thousand of Goans was put at risk.
