Hong Kong-based firm told to submit its plan.
Pratibha Tapi, a 24,000-tonne oil tanker which got stuck around 2.3 nautical miles off Madh Island, will finally be towed away from Mumbai’s coast, with the Bombay high court on Tuesday permitting a Hong Kong-based company to undertake the process.
The company, Best Oasis Ltd, which is the prospective buyer of MT Pratibha Tapi, has been granted permission to tow the sinking vessel as well as provide fuel to the second vessel, MT Pratibha Indrayani.
Vessels Pratibha Tapi and Pratibha Indrayani, which are owned by Pratibha Shipping, had been anchored 11 nautical miles from the Mumbai shore since December last year, when the owner firm ran into a financial crisis. Both vessels were placed under arrest by the Bombay high court in January after Pratibha Shipping failed to settle the maritime board’s claims.
Justice SJ Kathawalla directed Best Oasis to submit the towage plans of Pratibha Tapi to the Indian Registrar of Shipping (IRS) and the Directorate General of Shipping on Tuesday, which will then grant clearance at the earliest.
Venkatesh Dhond, senior counsel who was being instructed by Crawford Bayley and Company for Best Oasis, said that they were ready to finance the towing of the vessel. “The actual towing will be done by the company, which will provide tug boats,” added Dhond.
Best Oasis also agreed to provide fuel to Pratibha Indrayani, which, at present, is in a better condition than Pratibha Tapi. “If fuel and a crew is provided, then it can sail on its own,” added Dhond. Both the vessels are likely to be taken to Alang port in Gujarat for salvaging.
Pratibha Tapi is currently being monitored by Coast Guard and other concerned agencies. “The present location of Pratibha Tapi is not a threat to Mumbai’s coastline,” informed a Coast Guard officer.
According to a shipping department official, the tug boat that was kept on standby next to Pratibha Tapi has been taken away after the salvage operation by the government agency was challenged by the ship’s owners.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}