Yesterday’s collision, between a warship and a merchant vessel, off the Sunk Rock, in Mumbai Harbor is a serious affair. More so because it involved an Indian Navy ship the Vindhyagiri, out on a sortie with civilians on board, on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The Director General of Shipping, has ordered an enquiry and in due course you will probably see the following:
1. The Captain of the Vindhyagiri will face a court martial and be crucified. 2. The Captain of the Merchant Ship will probably, have his certificate suspended and his ship arrested. 3. The civilians on board will be so traumatized that many will not sail again. 4. The company that insured the Merchant ship will pay damages quietly.
The seriousness of the situation is that, damage to a warship, is construed as an act of sabotage against the state, unless proved otherwise. Also the warship is going to be out of action for a while undergoing repairs. It is fortunate that the collision did not result in an oil spill. Mumbai has seen serious accidents too often recently to rest in comfort. Last year, apart from the Chitra-Khalijia collision, a coast guard vessel CGS Vivek sank in the port after it was hit by Panamanian vessel Global Purity in March. On August 31, two ships collided at Indira Docks, the largest dock in Mumbai Port.
Considering the location of the accident, the merchant ship should have had a pilot on board and the Harbor Control should have monitored traffic. Why this did not prevent the accident, is a mystery? Consider the fact that traffic through the Straits of Malacca, off Singapore is much heavier, but traffic control is so good that one has not heard of an accident for a great many years, now. Many of these accidents as well as terrorists landing in Mumabi through sea, are serious pointers that all is not well at Mumbai port in terms of safety and security. Considering that Mumbai is still our commercial Capital the economic fallout would be disastrous if the port is not administered with greater care. Having said that, you will in all probability once again see, the small fish being netted, while the sharks get away!The story of our times...............
4 comments:
as part 2 of that story the navy ship capsized. as water filed in the ship after the fire brigade tried to put off the fire in the ship after the collision.... one thing i cant understand is how can a navy ship can sink after the collision with a merchant ship while the merchant ship being intact...?
and how can 2 large vessels one a warship other a cargo ship could not see each other coming on a clear sunday afternoon. in my opinion the captain of warship has to be court marshaled as he could not spot a big ship coming towards him on a clear day, then how can he navigate a ship in war time???
A typical Mumbaikar will say "Kai Pharak Padtho?"
Ramanth,
I'm not surprised by your questions.........!
However all of them require technical answers, which is beyond the scope of this space.
Maybe u should drop in at my cabin!
Prasad Sir,
Hope you are doing well.
True but the inefficiency is galling!
Cheers...............
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