Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, July 10: As per shipping schedule published by the Directorate of Shipping Services, the vessel MV Kalighat was scheduled to sail for Nancowry Group of Islands via Car Nicobar on 07.07.
2012. But after leaving Port Blair
Port for Car Nicobar on 07.07.2012 the vessel suddenly changed the course and sailed towards Hut Bay. The excuse of the crew members was that some passenger were waiting at Hut Bay Jetty but to the dismay of passengers there were hardly any passenger at the Jetty however, there were businessmen who loaded cargo in the vessel for Nicobar Group of Islands.
Sources confirmed that night 13 packets of fish and 900 kg of vegetable were loaded on the vessel for Nicobar District. Passengers allege that due to some kind of understanding between the captain of the vessel and some businessmen of Hut Bay the ship was taken to Hut Bay, diverting from already declared shipping schedule, just to take cargo for reasons best known to everybody.
When contacted the Director of Shipping Services, Capt K S Sesha Sai refuted all allegation of helping businessmen of Hut Bay. He clarified that the Directorate had received many phone calls from various section of local society on that day saying passengers are waiting at Hut Bay Jetty.
“We got information from reputed people that more than 100 passengers are waiting at Hut Bay but when the vessel reached Hut Bay there were only three passengers at the Jetty. This was of course a mis-information and from next time we would remain alert. We genuinely wanted to help people of Hut Bay,” the DSS added.
He also clarified that changing course of the ship is not violation of any rules as Shipping Department has power to make such operational changes as per the situation.
However, sources of the Department allege that the matter was well orchestrated to benefit a few businessmen who wanted to ship cargo to Nicobar District.
