PANJIM: Casino vessel Lucky 7, Goa’s unwanted guest, moved 300 metres on Monday before it hit the sand bar bringing the salvage operation to a halt for the day. The damaged vessel is now likely to drop anchor off Aguada Bay on Tuesday.
The exercise to tow the 5000-odd tonne ship began during the high tide at around 9am and after moving nearly 300 metres off the beach in two and half hours on Monday it hit the sand bar.
“The vessel hit the sand bar because of the rough weather. The salvors will try to pull it at high tide again tomorrow (Tuesday). It is floating however” an official told Herald.
Over a dozen experts, technicians and divers from the salvage company VMS Marine LLC are on the job even as the Captain of Ports Department is monitoring the exercise on a day-to-day basis. Three tug boats of 80 tonnes, 22 tonnes and 15 tonnes have been pressed into service.
“The hole beneath the vessel had further damaged the already unfit vessel as sand and water entered into it while it remained grounded on the beach. Once the vessel is in deeper waters, patch works and welding of the damaged portions will be carried out. The cracks will be sealed,” said the official.
It is expected that the underwater survey will be carried out off the Aguada Bay as the government does not want to risk allowing the vessel into the River Mandovi. However, sources said it is up to the salvors to inspect and decide if the vessel is fit to be taken to River Mandovi.
Following directions from the High Court, the CoP had earlier designated a spot off Campal for underwater inspection but with the present crisis, the task will be handled off Aguada Bay, sources said.
The vessel will then be re-floated to Jaigad dry dock yard where it will undergo 3-4 months of repairs. Only after it is declared fit, Lucky 7, which reportedly will operate under the name Big Daddy, will be allowed to enter Mandovi River.
Gopal Kanda of the Golden Glove Hotels Pvt Ltd said the vessel will be moved out of Miramar in two days as it needs stable water parking in Mandovi to clear the patches. The loss has been estimated at Rs 8 crore so far.
