Gracy Tripathy
Port Blair, September 14: There were several complaints from the passengers who travelled to Port Blair from Nicobar District, in MV Coral Queen recently. According to the passengers, especially students in this case, they had a rough time due to unbelievably choppy sea during the last sailing.
Andaman Sheekha reported on this issue on 14th September 2020 edition pointing out how the students encountered various problems during and after the journey.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Deputy Director of Shipping Services, Mr. R Veeriah in this regard he said that MV Coral Queen was sent as per the regular schedule of the shipping services.
MV Coral Queen is being sailed on such routes for over more than two years. If the weather conditions are bad then not only MV Coral Queen but all the ships will have to face same problem.
He further said that, shipping services always makes sure that as much as possible, sailings are made in good weather conditions and moreover MV Coral Queen has done its best in this weather.
When it was asked that why did the ship touch so many ports while sailing for Port Blair, he said that this particular schedule was meant only to cover the areas from where the students were supposed to board the ship, because one ship can’t be scheduled for each Island. He added that in any way monthly there is a sailing via Hut Bay to Kamorta and Campbell Bay which falls under regular schedule.
Further when Andaman Sheekha asked about proposed date when MV Kalighat will be pressed back in service and when the repair works will be over, Mr. Veeriah said that the ship is not yet ready, works are yet to be done on technical grounds.
“We already got MV Sentinel back into service and are trying to get MV Kalighat back as early as possible when the ship will be ready” Mr.Veeriah added.
