Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 29: A dredger owned by Mercator Ltd from Mumbai, which had anchored at New Mangalore Port with the purpose of undertaking dredging operations here had drowned a few months back.

On Monday, another dredger, 'Bhagawati Prem' owned by the above company got stuck in the sand due to turbulence at sea. All the 15 crew members of the ship including its captain have been rescued.

The ship landed near Suratkal beach very close to the seashore. The captain of the vessel informed the port's deputy conservator about the leakage in to the vessel and resultant flooding and sought immediate assistance. 

New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) swung into operation to assess the vessel's damage and immediately took a call to beach it, which was successfully completed. The timely action ensured that no loss of property or lives resulted and the maritime ecosystem in the region remained undisturbed. With incessant efforts the ship was stationed near the seashore near Hosabettu, Suratkal by Monday evening.

In the past, another dredger of the same company, Tridev Prem, had sunk near New Mangalore Port Trust and NMPT had to see that oil leakage did not happen. The fishermen, who face new problems with the sinking of ships and dredgers, have demanded to shift this ship elsewhere immediately as they will have problems if the ship sinks at the spot where it has been moored, which is most likely.