Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Feb 27: The Directorate of Shipping Services is trying hard to press the sick vessel, MV Campbell Bay, into service.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Director of Shipping Services, Captain K.S. Seshasai recently said that the Directorate is presently rectifying all faults of the vessel, MV Campbell Bay.
“Presently we are rectifying the faults and conducting trials. If everything goes well soon we will put the vessel into service,” the Director said.
The long awaited vessel, M V Campbell Bay has become talk of the town, as the vessel is believed to have dozens and dozens of technical faults. The vessel was also in news when a number of seamen were injured in two different accidents recently.
“The ship has already arrived and if the ship is not pressed into the service then I will have to give answer to seniors,” the Director said.
However, general public would like to know whether it would be safe to operate, such an unfit vessel in high sea, after minor repair works.
“The Million Dollar question is that if the vessel was not seaworthy, then why the ship was brought to Port Blair? Why Administration took the delivery?” questioned an Islander.
Moreover, it has also been learnt that M V Campbell Bay, another white elephant, does not have any cargo carrying capacity.
“Yes, the ship doesn’t have any cargo carrying capacity because the ship was not designed in that way,” the Director said.
Perhaps, MV Campbell is yet another example of Administration’s insensitivity towards general public.
“When shipping cargo to remote Islands like Campbell Bay and Nancowry Groups, remain as one of the biggest challenges, the Administration has brought a huge ship, which doesn’t even have option to carry cargo. This is a mockery,” said a resident of Car Nicobar Island.
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