VASCO: After 8 days of the incident, where the cruise liner docked at WISL got grounded due to ingress of rain water, the MPT authorities finally filed a FIR against 3 companies, including M/s WISL, M/S Sahara India Tourism Development Corporation Limited (original owner of vessel) and against the Mumbai-based Trinity Leisure Pvt Limited) who had taken the vessel on bare boat charter, holding these parties responsible for the incident which could have led to environmental disaster.
In its complaint, MPT has claimed that it executed an agreement with M/S WISL on April 5, 1993 whereby a water area of 50,000 sq mts and land area of 31,000 sq mts was licenced by MPT to WISL for setting up an operating floating dry dock and ship repair facility and the term of the said agreement extends up 2018.
It has been mentioned in the complaint that, cruise vessel ‘QING’ has been parked in the licensed area of WISL since Jan 2014. “As berthing of the vessel for over two years could cause damage, danger and risk, MPT time and again called upon the WISL to make efforts to sail the vessel out of Mormugao Port as MPT had noticed that the said vessel was parked without adequate protection and was kept unmanned, however, despite repeated requests by MPT the said vessel continued to remain berthed in the licenced premises of WISL,” complaint states.
MPT’s complaint further states that “Due to some private disputes between M/S WISL, M/S Sahara India and TLPL, the said vessel was neglected and continued to be lay there without adequate safety and protection and on June 29, 2016, the unmanned vessel got flooded with rainwater and got tilted due to which the jetty and one of the billboard got damaged. Also the India Coast Guard (ICG) inspected the vessel and observed that the vessel is carrying 350 tons of fuel onboard and if goes for leakage may cause a huge environmental disaster and the ICG requested the MPT to take appropriate legal action and also ensures preventive measures to check any oil spillage in the sea water on Goan Coast”.
MPT files FIR on cruise liner fiasco
VASCO: After 8 days of the incident, where the cruise liner docked at WISL got grounded due to ingress of rain water, the MPT authorities finally filed a FIR against 3 companies, including M/s WISL, M/S Sahara India Tourism Development Corporation Limited (original owner of vessel) and against the Mumbai-based Trinity Leisure Pvt Limited) who had taken the vessel on bare boat charter, holding these parties responsible for the incident which could have led to environmental disaster.
