HC directs Coast Guard, Navy to take measure for grounded ship

Mumbai, Sep 28 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the Coast Guard and Navy to initiate action for pulling out a ship carrying 8800 metric tonnes of LPG, grounded at a jetty near Ratnagiri immediately.

A division bench comprising Justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde were hearing a public interest litigation filed by Suchitra Ketkar, a Ratnagiri based lawyer, seeking action for pulling out 'Kew Bridge', the ship that is grounded at Ranpar Jetty owned by Finolex Industries Limited near Ratnagiri from September 15.

Petitioner's counsel Nilesh Pawaskar, contended that if the ship that was carrying a consignment of LPG for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited exploded, it could blow up more than half the district.

While the ship got stuck due to lack of statutory safety measures, attempts made to pull out the ship had failed. The petitioner further alleged that the state had taken no action in this regard.

The case will come up for next hearing on October 4.

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