Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Sep 6: Several things which were in the Tridevi Prem dredger that sank near Panambur port, have begun to float towards the shore. A few of these items like emergency rescue items, thermocol etc were found at Panambur and Bykampady seashores. This information was provided to Panambur police station by locals.
Sources say that most of the items inside the sunken ship were heavy, like cranes and machinery.
In the meantime, the office of the director general of shipping of the central government has served notice on the company which owns the ill-fated dredger to ensure that oil in the generator of the dredger does not spill and pollute the sea. The dredger, anchored about 2.5 nautical miles off the port, had sunk on September 2.
The crew of the ship had tried their best to pump out water that was entering the ship from Sunday night to Monday late night. After the task looked impossible they had abandoned the dredger and reached the coast guard ship by using their rescue boats. By the time an emergency team from New Mangalore Port Trust went to repair the ship, it was too late.
It is said that Mercator Ltd which is facing financial crisis, owns the dredger, and its crew members were not paid salaries since the last some months. Because of funds crunch, perhaps the company had not shifted its dredger back to Mumbai since the last several months. However, the drowned dredger is likely to create problems for New Mangalore Port Trust as the ship has sunk on the route by which ships move in and out of the port.