Team Herald
PANJIM: After days of indecision by the DG Shipping and government of Goa, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday announced that Master Marina from Holland would empty the naphtha from the grounded vessel Nu-Shi Nalini.
The chief minister said that the bidders from Singapore had backed off and hence Master Marina was finalised for the task.
Stating that the government is concerned about the naphtha-laden ship grounded off Dona Paula, Sawant said he will have a meeting with the DG Shipping, MPT and the five-member committee on the issue.
Asked whether DG Shipping was displaying a lethargic approach on the issue, he said, “There is no lethargy. We want safety and security, until then we will not take the risk of removal of naphtha or the ship.” He said that as of now the naphtha tanks are safe and nitrogen levels are also normal.
“We have written to DG Shipping and MPT. DG Shipping has taken the responsibility to remove the ship and are monitoring it round the clock. Their officers are here monitoring the ship,” Sawant said.
Earlier, asked the reason for the delay in finalising the contractor, the CM said, “We need expert salvagers who can do work indigenously. We do not want to take any risk.”
The opposition has alleged that there could be Bhopal-like tragedy due to a naphtha leak but the CM brushed aside such fears. “There is nothing like that. I told you the naphtha tanks are safe and there would be fear only when the tanks break,” he said.
