TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The oil tanker Pratibha Bheema may be towed to the Mormugao harbour Thursday, after lying anchored for five months in Goan waters. The Captain of Ports has written to the Mormugao Port Trust asking it to do the needful after the North Goa collector issued orders to the Captain of ports to remove the vessel. The three tug boats of the MPT would be used in the operation.
The vessel belongs to the Pratibha Shipping Company Ltd, Mumbai and was lying some 9 nautical miles off the coast. “We are taking care of the issue in coordination with the MPT,” CoP Captain James Braganza told Herald, adding that the chief secretary too is apprised of the situation and is keeping a close watch on it. The state is already in the throes of the pre-monsoons and the monsoons are expected to arrive in the state by June 7.
According to officials, the oil tanker had docked at the Mormugao Port Trust for repairs and maintenance some five months ago and after completion the 217-metre-long vessel was moved to its present position where it remained anchored till date.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised to take action on this vessel after it was brought to his notice and had threatened to attach it if it was not moved.
However, the MPT has reportedly told the media that the MPT wanted the government to provide it with three 100-tonne bollard tugboats to tow the oil tanker as it had only 45 and 50-tonne tugboats that do not have the pulling capacity to tow a 70,000-plus tonne vessel, without its engines running.
The MPT also purportedly said that the towing operation would be carried out only if the government pays certain dues to the port and a letter was sent to the Chief Secretary enlisting the MPT’s pre-conditions.
