Team Herald
VASCO: The staff members of Arihant Ship Breakers, who are attempting to remove the grounded pontoon from Arossim beach, achieved minor success by pulling the vessel 10 meters closer to the beach. The pontoon has to be moved another 50 meters towards the higher portion of the beach so that it can be cut and disposed as per the guidelines issued by the South Goa Collector, informed Deputy Captain of Ports Premlal A Sirsaiker, who has been appointed by the State administration to monitor the salvage operations on day-to-day basis.
According to information, the salvage operation restarted in full swing on Thursday and the Arihant staff members handling the operation used upgraded machinery and tools, including a winch, to pull the pontoon, which was gradually submerging into the sand.
“We had to first move a corner of the pontoon towards the beach so that pulling it could be easy. After upgrading the tools, we managed to tilt 75 percent of the vessel towards the beach and we could only pull it 10 metres away from where it had grounded. Before we could pull it further, the 65 MM metal chain that was tied to the pontoon and winch suddenly broke in the evening,” an Arihant staff member told Herald on condition of anonymity.
He further informed, “As the pontoon has started moving, we will again start pulling it during high tide. I am sure that the vessel will be pulled the remaining 50 meters by Friday.”
Meanwhile, Deputy CoP Sirsaiker stated, “Ten percent of the work has been completed. They have pulled the pontoon 10 meters towards the beach. As the vessel has become heavy due to the presence of sand and water inside it, they have been facing some difficulty. However, efforts are still on to pull the pontoon towards the beach and cut it, as per the directives issued by the Collector.”
