The Hindu Business Line : Efforts on to rescue Panama cargo vessel

In deep trouble: Vernal Grace, a cargo ship carrying crude palm oil from Penang, Indonesia, for discharge at Budge Budge jetty under the Kolkata Dock System, hit the bank of the river Hooghly at Kulpi, about 75 km from Kolkata recently.

Our Bureau

Kolkata, July 12

A massive effort is being launched by the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) to pull out a 6,700-dwt Panama-registered cargo vessel, “Vernal Grace”, stuck in the bank of the Hooghly river at Kulpi, about 45 nautical miles from the Kolkata Dock System (KDS).

The vessel, more than 20 years old, is carrying 3,570 tonnes of crude palm oil loaded in the port of Penang in Indonesia.

The crew, all Indonesians, as well as the Master, a Korean, are safe.

A few days ago, the ship, while proceeding towards Budge Budge jetty under KDS, got drifted into the bank due to poor visibility caused by heavy rains and engine failure.

The ship, according to Kolkata port sources, did not have the required number of anchors on board, as a result the drifting could not be stopped. With each subsequent tide in the river, the vessel only drifted further to the land.

Awaiting High tide

The initial attempt to pull the vessel out in the high tide did not succeed. Subsequently, as the tide ebbed, the effort had to be abandoned.

The tide will start becoming high again from Thursday morning and will continue till July 16.

The port authorities would like to take advantage of the situation to pull the vessel out and are accordingly mobilising high capacity tugs and other rivercraft and equipment.

“We’ve, however, told the agent of the ship, and through him the owners, to be in touch with a reputed salvage company”, Capt A. Bagchi, Director of Marine, Kolkata Port Trust, told Business Line.

“If our effort fails, the help of the salvage company will be needed”.