Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Mangalore, Jul 31: The sunken vessel M V Den Den is in the midst of controvery despite of 1,500 litres of marine diesel and 140 tonnes of furnace oil, still lying intact in the tanks of the vessel.
The Mangalore Customs withdrawing the earlier concession has imposed a duty on both 1,500 litres of marine diesel and 140 tonnes of furnace oil in the vessel. The duty thus levied would earn revenue to the tune of about Rs 1 crore to the Mangalore Customs, stated informed sources.
M Ajit Kumar Central excise commissioner, who is in-charge of Customs informed that the concession has been withdrawn as the vessel had not sailed to its destination and was now shipwrecked on Tannirubhavi coast. The said duty will be first collected and then would be refunded depending on the process, he added.
In an earlier meeting the representatives of the ill-fated M V DenDen, Indemnity and Protection Club had opposed the collection of duty on marine diesel in a vessel which had already sunk. They believed that the shipwreck itself was a huge loss and the duty would only add to the loss.
Marine diesel in international market is priced at the rate of 745$ per metric tonne. According to Ajit Kumar the duty will be collected in totality. Further he said the owners of the sunken vessel will be eligible for refunding, following dip in quantity during the salvage operations.
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