50 containers taken off grounded vessel in Mumbai harbour

MUMBAI - A month after two Panamanian cargo ships collided off Mumbai harbour, 50 containers have been offloaded from the deck of the vessel that got grounded after the accident, an official said Monday.

“The first barge with 42 containers is awaiting berthing at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) for which customs authority has given clearance,” the official from the directorate general of shipping said.

“MSC Chitra continues to be stable at about 190 list. So far, 50 containers have been off-loaded from its deck and this operation is continuing. However, five containers have fallen off MSC Chitra and have sunk near it,” he added.

Further developments in the situation are normal and regular shipping movements in and out of Mumbai Port, both during day and night, have resumed since Sep 3.

“Shipping movements in and out of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust during day time are normal, while during night time, underwater clearance of about 2.1 metres is being maintained,” the official said.

Salvors continue to survey the navigational channel and have not found any obstructions. Salvors have also completed survey of about 90 percent of the areas where fishing nets were earlier obstructed and have so far not found any containers.

“Ferry boat operators have been given clearance by Mumbai Port Trust and also Maharashtra Maritime Board to operate. However, they are awaiting better weather conditions,” the official said.

Plastic debris have been noticed floating near the port side of the grounded vessel, and seems to have come out from the containers, the official said.