Team Herald
PANJIM: The salvaging of casino ship Lucky 7 could turn more difficult in the coming days with an inspection team confirming that the vessel has tilted due to prolonged delay in carrying out the salvage operation. “A vertical portion of the vessel has tilted, due to which the water has now reached the main deck. This has increased sinking risk,” said an official.
Officials and experts of Captain of Ports Department, conducting day-to-day survey in and around the vessel, sent a communiqué to Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited seeking to know whether it has appointed a new salvor. Sources told Herald that the casino firm, owned by the controversial former home minister of Haryana, Gopal Kanda, has been asked to reply by when the vessel will leave the Miramar shores.
“The company was in talks with Madgavkar Salvage Private Limited to salvage the vessel, but there are no updates since then. We have written to the company asking when the new salvor will be finalised and by when the vessel be removed,” said the official. “The delay is increasing the sinking risk,” he added.
Sources said Kanda’s company had purchased the ship for Rs 12 crore before anchoring in Goan waters.
Earlier this month, the bottom of the vessel had developed a hole flooding the ground floor including the engine room with water. The width’s expansion resulted in further damage to the vessel even as rains in the last 2-3 days have raised the possibility of multiple difficulties.
GGHPL had hired Mumbai-based firm Arihant Ship Breakers that claimed its experts will refloat and tow the vessel into deep waters by mid-August. But the firm decided to replace the salvor over a week ago.
Arihant blamed the casino company for hindering their operation. “We had completed all the repairs it required before towing it away from the Miramar beach. We were also ready to refloat her (vessel) but then they (GGHPL) asked us to be on standby for 10 days. In the meantime, they decided to turn her without our consent and the ship hull developed further breaches,” an official from the company had told Herald in an interview this week.
Madgavkar Salvage Private Limited that is being considered for the rescue of Lucky 7 claims the exercise can begin only after the ports open on September 15.
