PANJIM: With two weeks to re-float the dangerously tilted M V Lucky 7 in deep waters for underwater inspection, the international salvor has been asked to submit a written assurance to the government that the vessel is fit to be shifted from its present location at Miramar beach to Panjim anchorage.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa that has taken up the matter on priority and has even warned of cancelling the licence, if the firm flouts any conditions laid down at the time of shifting the vessel.
M/s AMS Marine LLC, having its head office in Egypt and sub-office in Dubai is carrying out repair of the hull, to re-float in deep waters for underwater survey.
The High Court, in its observations said it expects the vessel owner M/s Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd to ensure the salvor submits written assurance about the fitness of the vessel for shifting.
“We expect the vessel owner/petitioners to require their salvors to provide a written assurance that the vessel is fit to be moved from its present location to Panjim Anchorage. This written assurance will be provided to the Captain of Ports by September 12, 2017. If this is not done, liberty to the government to apply,” the division bench of Justices Nutan Sardessai and G S Patel said.
It is learnt that CoP department will designate off Campal to anchor the vessel. However a formal application seeking permission for the purpose is still awaited. The court has also stated that ‘there should be a proposal to move this vessel anywhere along the length of the Mandovi River, this will be subject to the express written permission of the CoP, and will be in restrict adherence of such terms and conditions, including as to deployment of appropriate tugs and barges, as he may decide.’
The CoP has been asked to specify the location on or before September 15. The bench further stated that the petitioner shall bear all the costs of including that of even the slightest environmental harm. The government is given the liberty to take steps to recover those amounts as it deems fit.
“We also make it clear that a breach of any of these conditions requirements may well result in cancellation of all licences and permissions so far granted to the petitioner,” warned the bench.
The vessel’s hull has developed breach of several meters length with the process of survey expected to take between four and seven days.
The court has thus sought a report on September 27 both from the government and the vessel owner as to where the vessel will then be moved, how and within what time, away from Panjim Anchorage.
