PANJIM: Offshore casino vessel Lucky 7 moved around 500 mtrs away from Miramar beach, into deeper waters, well over two months after it ran aground on the most frequented coastline.
Five tugboats, two of which were hired from Mumbai while one belonged to the Captain of Ports Department and two additional tugs from the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) were roped-in to pull the vessel to deeper waters. The salvage operation that resumed after nearly a week, on Monday saw the vessel being towed to its designated location off Campal within one-and-half hours. The operation that began at 9am ended at 10:30am.
Captain of Ports James Braganza confirmed the development stating, “The vessel is in deep waters where the underwater survey has also begun. It will thereafter undergo underwater patch works.”
Once fit to sail a longer distance, the Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd-owned ship will be taken to Jaigad dry dock yard where major repair works will be undertaken. For inter-state movement, the company will have to seek permission from the Director General of Shipping and other concerned authorities.
The company and the salvors VMS Marine Line LLC had assured the High Court of Bombay at Goa to tow the vessel to Jaigad by October 10 when the matter comes up for the next hearing.
The company had blatantly violated the conditions laid down by CoP that also advised movement in waters post the monsoon, after September 15. Defying the condition resulted in the crisis coupled with further weakening of the vessel during the salvage operation and technical glitches. GGHPL – adamant on bringing the vessel in Mandovi River – defied weather warnings including that if stranded, it could block navigation of other vessels.
