Princess saga continues Panel to finalise bidder today

Princess saga continues Panel to finalise bidder today
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, NOV 9
Goa State Disaster Management Committee (GSDMC) has short-listed four bidders for the final claim to salvage M V River Princess, which lies grounded off Candolim shore.
The decision on the successful bidder will be taken on November 10.
GSDMC, headed by Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava, met on Tuesday and finalised four bidders out of seven.
The four bidders include – Titan Maritime (Sea) Pvt Ltd, Singapore; Madgavkar Salvage joint bid with Smith Salvage, Singapore; Resolve Salvage & Fire Europe Limited, UK; and Arihant Ship-breaking.
The other three salvage companies, whose bids were rejected includes Salgaonkar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd; Jeisu Shipping Pvt Ltd and Al Fara General Trading, Bahrain.
The Committee member Agnelo Fernandes said that these three companies failed to compete technically.
“Various aspects such as experience, type of job and other points were taken into consideration, while finalising the bidders,” he said.
Fernandes informed that the financial bid of the selected companies will be opened on Wednesday.
The State government last month, had decided to float fresh tender for the removal of vessel, after SMIPL and River Princess Hatao Manch both withdrew their offers to remove the vessel for free, citing reasons that the performance guarantee of Rs 10 crore demanded by the government was too high.
Similarly, the two final contenders for the job – Titan Salvage and Madgavkar Salvage, whose bids were to be considered by the government, did not comply with the tendering rules.
The High Court, in its order on September 8 had directed the State government to commence the work of vessel removal within two months from the date.