VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The ageing ferry boats have become a major challenge for the authorities considering that they have been putting to risk lives of over a lakh of citizens, who on a daily basis commute on different ferry routes.
Some of these, as old as 31 years are among the fleet of around 35 ferry boats plying on 18 routes providing the country’s unique service in inland waterways to about 1.25 lakh people on an average daily. Read Edit Pg 8 >>
The incident on Thursday, where the ferry hit a sand bar and got stuck in the middle with several pasengers, though was not due to technical glitches, the ageing of a large number of these exclusive water transport system has raised concern on the safety of commuters.
The authorities however deny any safety issues arguing that each passenger boat undergoes thorough survey by the Captain of Ports Department and Marine Surveyors, after which its fitness is certified.
Herald has exclusive access to details wherein four ferry boats were manufactured in 1986, one in 1987, 18 between 1990 and 1997, while the latest purchase of three boats named ‘Wadi,’ ‘Vanxim’ and ‘Savoi Verem’ were in the year 2012.
A department officer justified that three boats have already been condemned this year, which would be replaced with new ones in January 2018. He explained that a government-appointed committee decides about condemning the boats, each of which costs a whopping Rs 1.75 crore approx.
“If the ferry boats are not fit, the surveyors would reject the renewal during annual inspection. The boats undergo yearly maintenance at River & Navigation Department’s (RND) Marine Workshop. It is produced before the surveyors for renewal of operations certificate. After an extensive inspection, the experts declare if it is sea worthy or not,” he said.
The CoP, which is the registration authority, has claimed that maintenance of the boat and overhauling of the engines are essential. “The fitness certificate is granted/renewed of the entire section including the internal machineries. We ensure the boats are annually inspected, surveyed and maintained. Most importantly, its engines need to be compulsorily overhauled every year,” said a CoP official adding that the inspection also verifies availability of fire safety and life saving equipments on board.
While the purchases of the existing fleet was made through different agencies, the three additions – expected to be inducted in January 2018 – are being built at a private engineering company in Old Goa. A Secretariat official also revealed that two more ferry boats ‘Cumbarjua’ and ‘Canacona’ will soon be condemned to be substituted with new ones.
