PANJIM: A Singapore-based company will be roped in to salvage the naphtha-laden ship grounded off Dona Paula, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said he has been monitoring the issue daily but it was not practically feasible for the agencies to transfer the naphtha to another ship. “To tell you frankly, we don’t want to take any risk. The work has to be carried out without any disturbance. We do not want a trial and error method. We want the issue to be sorted out without any risk,” he said.
The CM also said that the ship is now grounded and there was no chance of the ship breaking and that the naphtha tanks are safe. He said the nitrogen level within is normal and hence it cannot explode.
“DG Shipping has sent experts to review the situation and we have decided to take professional people on board for a solution. We had asked for three quotations and have received two from Singaporean companies. The company would be finalised this (Tuesday) evening and by tomorrow orders will be given,” he said.
The CM said that if the removal of the ship and so also naphtha is possible with locally-available equipment, then work would be completed within eight days, else it will take 15 days.
Asked which are the companies, and who would pay for the salvage, Sawant said, “We had asked the companies in contact with DG Shipping to complete survey and submit quotations”.
On the expenditure part, the CM said, State will not spend anything. “The owner of the ship will be responsible to pay, in case if he fails MPT will be responsible or else DG Shipping will take the responsibility,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister said that the passports of the ship’s captain and owner have been seized. “We are not taking any action on MPT as of now, as we need the MPT chairman on board for a solution,” he stated, when asked what action would be taken against the MPT chairman. He, however, said that action against those responsible is imminent.
