Exercise caution about unseaworthy vessels: A V Ramana
New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) President A V Ramana has advised the Indian Coast Guard and the agents of cargo ships to exercise caution about unseaworthy vessels which seek help during emergencies in Indian or international maritime boundaries. He was speaking at a workshop on maritime emergencies, organized by NMPA at a private hotel in Mangaluru on Monday.
“Unseaworthy commercial vessels, without any fitness certificate, operated in the seas throughout the year. But when they face any trouble during inclement weather or cyclones they send emergency alert signals through local agents requesting entry to Indian ports. Our ports and government will be in trouble because of this. Many such ships sink in the middle of the sea during their journey. Our ports will face pollution, along with other problems, in these situations”, A V Ramana said.
He explained how other ships calling at the port will face problems when such unfit vessels sink in the middle of sea. Alleging that such unseaworthy ships get fitness certificates from those countries which have lenient laws, A V Ramana stated that they benefit from the loopholes in Indian legal system. “So when such vessels seek assistance during emergencies, ensure that they possess international insurance”, he added.
A V Ramana stated that “Directorate General of Shipping grants fitness certificates to commercial vessels in India. But all vessels need not get the certificate from the DG itself. The ships may get fitness certificate from countries with more lenient laws. Those who wish to make quick and illegal money get the fitness certificate from foreign countries”.
The NMPA president said that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) had been brought out to assist ships in emergencies, which was also brought to the notice of Directorate General of Shipping, Additional Secretary for Shipping and District Disaster Management Authority. “This SOP will help avoid confusions and reduce pollution. It will also help us to stop unseaworthy vessels”, he said.
Assistant Conservator of Mormugao Port Authority Captain Manoj Joshi, Environmental Advisor to the Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways Dr R D Tripathi were the main speakers in the workshop.
Dakshina Kannada DC Mullai Muhilan, who inaugurated the event, said that development of port would complement local development. “Mangalore is a port city. All issues related to port connectivity will be resolved once the work on NH 75, which connects the city to the state capital, is completed. NMPA has come forward to partner with the work of a truck terminal in Mangaluru”, he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UP: Misled by GPS navigation, car falls into river from partially constructed bridge, 3 dead
Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.
The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.
"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.
The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.
There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.
Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.
The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) November 24, 2024
