No hope of a salvage for capsized Eriteran ship

Mangalore, Jun 24 (UNI) The Eritrean vessel +Den Den+, which ran aground off Tannirbavi coast near the city in the Arabian Sea continue to stay half submerged with no hope in sight of a salvage of the cargo ship.

The vessel which sailed off from the New Mangalore Port carrying iron ore on June 22 last year developed technical snag near Tannirbavi beach a few nautical miles from the New Mangalore port and started tilting.

The captain of the ship Abraham Kwaw who was immediately contacted by the port authorities was refused any assistance from the authorities who washed off their hands saying that the crew would be able to get the vessel sailing after some time.

However, by the next day the vessel started pulling itself towards the shore due to high tides and started sinking. Three crew members had lost their lives, while on attempting to reach shore by jumping from the ship despite valiant efforts made by the local fishermen to save them.

The remaining 21 crew members including its captain reached the shore but were made to spend almost three months in isolation in a City Hotel virtually kept like captives as they had lost all documents in the incident.

The bureaucratic delay in procedures between Indian and Eritrean governments had forced them stay in Mangalore without freedom to move anywhere confining them to remain in their hotel rooms.

The vessel was carrying 80 tones furnace oil and 25 tonnes of Diesel created panic among the local fishermen community who were afraid of oil spill from the sinking ship threatening the marine life besides causing pollution. Later both the furnace oil and diesel was pumped out to another vessel.

Earlier the cargo of the ship had been unloaded using tugs.

Meanwhile, the local fishermen also protested against breaking of the ship in the Tannirbavi area owing to environmental concerns. The question was also raised as to who was to bear the expenses in case of breaking of the ship or salvage operation.

The salvaging of the ship still remained unresolved making the vessel to remain in the present half sunken position exposing its bottom above the water. This had made her a attractive tourist spot.

Incidentally two other ships had met with same fate near the same spot earlier.

UNI MA RS TD0936