Miramar (Goa): While the salvaging of the grounded Off Shore casino vessel has proved to be a failure so far, some startling facts have cropped up pointing fingers at Arihant Ship Breakers.
Government sources disclosed that the new tugboat brought by the Mumbai firm to tow the huge vessel out of Miramar beach was a damaged one. “The tugboat was on its way to a dockyard in Sri Lanka for repairs but Arihant diverted it to Goa for the salvage operation. The boat was itself in need of repairs. It’s one engine was not operational,” said the source.
The Captain of Ports department that is monitoring the whole exercise pulled up the company for unnecessarily consuming time. The delay in towing the vessel has resulted in further damage. New cracks are developing and widening, flooding the bottom portion of the vessel with waters.
Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd, which is owned by controversial ex-home miniater of Haryana Gopal Kanda hired Arihant to tow the vessel. However even after one month the Mumbai firm has not been able to do so. “Kanda company probably realised that Arihant cannot carry out the salvaging and that’s why it is likely to rope in actual salvor. Arihant is specialised in ship braking, not salvaging whereas Madgavkar Salvage Pvt Ltd (which is being considered for the salvage operation) is am expert in salvaging vessels , ” he said.
Team TNV