S Goa collector orders removal of fuel from M V Qing

MARGAO/VASCO: South Goa collector Swapnil Naik, in an order issued last week under the provision of the Disaster Management Act, has directed the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to remove the oil contained in the grounded cruise vessel M V Qing at Western India Shipyard Limited (WISL) berth. Naik told TOI that MPT has also been instructed to repair the vessel. The order states that the WISL berth where the vessel has been grounded be brought under the control of the MPT until August 31 in order to facilitate the salvage operations.
“As the charterer’s contractor did not attend the meetings convened to review the salvage operations, it was decided that the area of the WISL be brought under the control of the MPT,” Naik said. MPT has already lodged a complaint with the Marmugao police against WISL in connection with the grounding of the cruise liner.
It may be recalled that the ship, belonging to Sahara India Parivar, has been berthed at the dock since January 2014. It had come down for repair work, but due to some problem between the company and WISL, the ship remained stranded here. During monsoon the ship drifted and hit the dock.
On inspection, the coast guard pointed out to the 350 tonnes of fuel the ship contained and the environment disaster it could cause. Sources say the work was not being done as authorities were waiting for WISL to respond. Finally the order was issued on Tuesday that from that day on till August 31, the dock will be in the charge of MPT.
MPT has been asked to remove the fuel and float the ship. On Tuesday morning the MPT team did an inventory of WISL.
Meanwhile 350 odd WISL workers who have been agitating about the nonpayment of salaries were forcibly removed from the premise with the help of the Mormugao police.