Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Mar 24: With nearly 1100 passengers onboard the M V Swaraj Dweep developed engine breakdown just nearly 30 minutes after sailing from Haddo Wharf, yesterday evening.
Surprisingly the ship MV Swaraj Dweep returned from Annual Passenger-ship Survey (APS) just a few weeks back. According to sources, the ship looked horribly shabby even after APS, with almost no denting and paining work on the outer surface of the ship.
According to reports the ship was stranded from 6.30 pm to nearly 10.30 pm at night near Ross Island, giving nightmares to passengers. After night 10.30 pm the ship started sailing very slowing away from Ross Island.
Sources told Andaman Sheekha the engine of Starboard side reportedly suffered breakdown yesterday after which fuming passengers demanded explanation and finally the Director of Shipping Services had to come onboard to talk to passengers and calm them down.
“What the use of APS when the ship looks horrible dirty and mismanaged. How come a ship develops such breakdown after APS and what would happen if the ship again develop the same problem in the middle of Bay of Bengal,” said an angry passenger.
