Abandoned Dredger ‘Tridevi Prem’ Anchored near New Mangaluru Port Sinks
Mangaluru: On 2 September, The Indian Coast Guard and NMPT officials had rescued 20 persons, including 13 crew members and seven others, after the Coast Guard received a distress message from the dredger named ‘Tridevi Prem from Mumbai. The master of the vessel had reported flooding in the pump room, and after the crew were rescued, now it is learnt that the dredger anchored within the jurisdiction of New Mangalore Port Trust in the Arabian Sea sank on Tuesday, 3 September.
It is learnt that the Dredger was on a contractual agreement with the New Mangalore Port Tust (NMPT) for dredging to ensure sufficient depth for ships approaching the port. Speaking to Team Mangalorean to S.S. Dasila, Commander, Coast Guard, Karnataka said, “The master of the vessel had reported flooding in the pump room on August 31 itself. Later, it was reported to have been under control on the same day. However, from September 1 evening the master again began raising an alarm on flooding in the same compartment. Later, the company owning the dredger sent a repair team to it “
Commander further said, The Deputy Conservator, NMPT, himself was embarked on the vessel by a tug. When the Coast Guard received the distress message again on September 1 night, the Coast Guard diverted its ship ICGS Amartya for help. On preliminary assessment from outside, the vessel appeared to be stable and no threat to life on board the vessel had been observed. However, the master repeatedly continued expressing his intention of abandoning the ship, with crew in lifeboat. Later, the Coast Guard and NMPT personnel rescued all 20 lives from it”.
According to New Mangalore Port Trust Chairman A.V.Ramana who said that the sinking of the dredger would not affect navigation of vessels. “The place where the dredger sunk was not on the navigation route. No damage to the environment as the fuel in the dredger was low sulphur high speed diesel that evaporated in the atmosphere in case of an oil spill. As an added precaution, NMPT has placed primary and secondary booms to prevent spread of oil. A Coast Guard vessel has been deployed to keep vigil. A complaint has been filed with the Coastal Security Police and Mangaluru City Panambur police against Tridevi Prem owners for abandoning the dredger”.
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