Concerns Raised Over Safety of Ferry Service Between Champin and Kamorta Islands; Islanders demand new Ferry Vessels

Vikramaditya
Champin Island, August 12: Residents of Champin Island, Nicobar District have voiced serious concerns over the fitness of the government-operated ferry vessels, particularly the MV Galathia, currently serving the route between Champin and Kamorta Islands. The two vessels, MV Galathia and MV Barren, are vital for the daily commute of numerous passengers, including a significant number of students and teachers. However, growing worries about the safety and reliability of these vessels, especially MV Galathia, have led to demands for urgent action.
According to local sources, many have raised serious questions over the fitness of the MV Galathia vessel. The situation has caused considerable anxiety among the islanders, who rely heavily on this service for their daily travel.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Hassan Lamaya, the Block Congress President of the region, expressed his deep concern over the situation. He has called for the immediate removal of MV Galathia from service and urged the authorities to provide a new ferry equipped with proper amenities and safety measures for passengers.
It is worth noting that MV Galathia has a history of safety issues. On August 30, 2019, the vessel was stranded off Kamorta due to bad weather, putting 58 passengers, including 17 students, at risk. The stranded passengers were eventually rescued by the police and PMF staff, averting a potential disaster. Given this history, many residents fear that continuing to operate MV Galathia with such poor condition could lead to another, possibly more severe incident.
Efforts by Andaman Sheekha to contact senior officials of the Shipping Department for comments on this and other related issues were unsuccessful, as the officials declined to speak to the media. The lack of communication from the department has only heightened concerns among the public.
Residents and local leaders are now urging the authorities to take swift action before another disaster occurs, demanding introduction of a better ferry for the sector.