Failure to implement strict laws gives decommissioned MV Wisdom and MT Pavit a smooth sailing
The recent grounding of ships off the Mumbai coast has exposed the lackadaisical attitude of authorities in implementing stringent laws to curb smooth sailing of old decommissioned ships into Indian waters.
In the past one month, two ships—MV Wisdom and MT Pavit—grounded off the Juhu beach, triggering pollution fears. It has come to light that people involved in shipping business take Indian authorities lightly and send their old vessels for dismantling.
“Rules and regulations of all the shipping countries are same. Since India is a member of the international maritime community, the same rules also apply to India. The problem in India is with the implementation of those rules. If an incident like the MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia collision happens in an important harbour in the American or Australian waters, the owners would have been penalised heavily. In India they know that no sudden checks will be carried out thus they sail with their old ships doing business as usual,” said Captain DK Singh from Forward Seamens Union of India.
“Before sailing, the pilot of the ship has to carry out proper checks of all systems— navigation, communication, hull, engine and all the parts of the ship. Only after a thorough check, s/he will be allowed to sail. If such checks were carried out, MV Rak Carrier would not have sunk. In some foreign countries, the Coast Guard and maritime traffic authorities carry out sudden checks on merchant ships entering their waters and if any loophole is found they are penalised heavily but in India sudden checks are rarely conducted,” Singh added.
MV Rak Carrier was operating since 1984 and has sailed across the globe carrying heavy bulk cargo. Authorities from the DG Shipping will conduct an inquiry in this matter but the real reason can only be known if the ship is checked by experts. Coast Guard PCV Samudra Prahari has been deployed at the spot to check if there is any oil spill. The vessel has around 100 tonnes of fuel in its tank.
“India being a country big in shipping business, the authorities are not strict on merchant ships entering its waters as they bring business. This is a major reason why India has not been strict in dealing with such ships,” said a marine expert.
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