Roni Antony
Port Blair, Aug 07: The Director of Shipping Services, Captain Ashutosh Pandey today said that considering the safety of passengers and rough weather, the passengers of MV Nicobar were asked to disembark the ship today, after a pinhole was reported in the ship.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the DSS said that MV Nicobar reported a pinhole of 63mm, which was sighted at 08:30AM today.
He said that soon the scheduled sailing to Port Blair with 97 Passengers was delayed until further investigations took place.
“The pinhole was repaired in two hours by ship’s crew. In Normal weather, sailings to Port Blair would have been permitted, however for safety and Security of passengers, it has been a conscious decision, for the Shipping department to bring MV Nicobar to Port Blair, without passengers due to cyclone warning in North Bay of Bengal. An alternate vessel MV Campbell bay will reach Campbell Bay tomorrow to bring back the 97 passengers,” the Director said.
He said that MV Campbell Bay will sail on 09th August 2019 and by that time the weather would also improve.
“Passengers are permitted to stay free of cost and their Food and Accommodation arrangements have been entrusted to DC Car Nicobar,” the Director said adding that the Directorate of Shipping Services take safety of passengers very seriously and hence this decision was taken to disembark passengers at Campbell Bay.
