Conflicting reports are surfacing about the master of the vessel m.v. Jala Vahini that entered the harbour area without permission on Monday evening.
According to one report, the master, Manmohan Singh Sabba, had a heated argument with owners of the vessel, Global United Shipping India, Chennai, when the vessel was stationed at Colombo. He reportedly asked the owners to sign him off at Colombo, to which the owners declined. It appeared that he nursed a grudge and that prompted him to forcibly enter the Visakhapatnam harbour without prior permission with an intention to damage the vessel, or force the VPT to levy heavy penalty on the owners.
Another report said that there had been a “mutiny” on board over some issue at Colombo, and all the 20-member crew, including the chief officer and chief engineer, revolted against the master. He reportedly perceived a threat to his life, and, on reaching the anchorage point at Visakhapatnam, requested the VPT officials to accord permission to come in.
The officials declined the request and asked him to contact his shipping agents, Seaway Shipping. Even before the agents could get things rolling, he took a decision to move in.
There was another report suggesting that he was mentally depressed and suffering from some kind of a disorder and, in a fit of rage, went against his crew members to move the ship in without permission.
Officials are tight-lipped about what actually happened. But what is to be noted is that a ship cannot be manoeuvred once it crosses the breakwater region. It needs to be guided by an experienced pilot and towed by tugs.
Anything could have happened, including losing control over the ship. And such a thing happening at the mouth of the harbour would have been disastrous both for the Vikhapatnam Port Trust and the Eastern Naval Command.
A senior master, however, pointed out that no master could steer a ship on his own. It was teamwork of all the crew, even if the ship was on auto pilot mode. Hence, the “mutiny” angle needs to be probed.
