Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Mar 19: Raising Voice regarding un-seaworthy vessels of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, which are causing major losses to government exchequer, the General Secretary of Seafarers Confederation of India (SCI) has now demanding a clarification from the Director of Shipping Services, A & N Administration.
According to the General Secretary of SCI, Mr. Liju Tankachan, M.V.Hutbay (Passenger vessel), M.V.Jollybuoy ( Passenger vessel), M.V.Baratang (Passenger vessel), M.V.Rangat, ( Passenger vessel), M.V.Pillowmillow (Passenger-cum-Cargo vessel), M.V.Long Island (Passenger-cum-Cargo vessel), M.V.Onge (Passenger-cum-Cargo vessel) and M.V.Chuglam ( Cargo vessel) are out of service since a long long time due to dearth of proper management by shipping department or Technical snags.
In a letter addressed to the Director of Shipping Services, Mr. Liju Tankachan added that as per the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd, they had taken over the Technical Managing of foreshore sector operational vessels since June’2016 and later non-operational vessels on August’2016. But even after handing over to SCI still the above enlisted vessels are in non-operational state and so far no work has been executed for these vessels .
“M.V.CHUGLAM has been taken over by SCI in the year of 2016 and renewal work has already been completed by SCI on expeditious manner to put her in service for Inter-islands. But now a day’s SCI has stopped to implement ISM in M.V.CHUGLAM. Why SCI doesn’t get support from your office to make her operational,” he questioned adding that “Earlier, Technical manager of DSS namely M/s ABS Marine Service Pvt. Ltd had put all above mentioned Administration vessels in risk by means of non maintenance in time to time, consequently maximum vessels are not in state to make operational by SCI. However no effective actions have been initiated by your office against previous Technical Manager.”
The issue of maintaining a large fleet of un-seaworthy ships is not a new issue. The former Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has specifically directed the DSS to make all the sick ships, sea worthy as soon as possible but it seems for Shipping Department things moves in snail pace.
