A Cyprus-registered container vessel and an Indian Navy ship collided off the Mumbai harbour on Sunday evening. There is no causality or oil spill, but the naval vessel suffered minor damages, said a top Mumbai port official.

The container ship “Nord Lake” was coming after loading at the JN port and the frigate was on its way to the naval dockyard, when the accident took place, the official said.

Second collision

The cargo vessel had the port pilot on board when the mishap occurred in the common channel for both the JN port and the Mumbai port; the cause of the accident is yet be ascertained, the official said.

This is the second ship-collision in Mumbai port in the last six months.

Last August, during the monsoon, two cargo vessels collided in the Mumbai port waters causing oil spill and loss of containers.

Though today's is a minor accident, shipping circles raise the issue of safety at the port waters.

Both the recent accidents took place in the broad daylight, said a port user.

In the collision in August, also took place in the common channel for both ports, the container ship MSC Chitra, which was coming out of JN port, was hit by the break-bulk carrier m.v. Khalijia III, as it was proceeding to berth at the Mumbai port.

Following the collision, MSC Chitra tilted and over 300 loaded containers fell from the ship into the water, blocking vessel traffic though the main channel.

The vessel, which was grounded, is yet to be removed, even six months after the accident.

According to Mumbai port officials, owners of the vessel have been directed to remove it, but they are yet to tie-up with the wreck removal experts.

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