Santosh Patnaik
Visakhapatnam: The crew of m.v. Maa, a Bangladeshi ship which ran aground near a beachfront park here are apprehending danger to their lives following fresh threat of a cyclone.
The cargo ship which drifted towards the ground in mid-October under the influence of deep depression following breaking of one of its anchorage near Visakhapatnam Port.
The ship owner reportedly expressed his desire to abandon the ship. The owner failed to take the ship to Hindustan Shipyard Limited for repairs due financial constraints and difficulties in getting clearance to tow it to the nearby shipyard through the port’s entrance channel.
The crew in a message to B.V. Ratnam, Inspector of International Transport Workers’ Federation sought support to ensure safe shelter to them by the owner.
Ratnam told Odisha Channel that the Chief Officer m.v. Maa told him “as we came to know that cyclone Nivar is going to hit tomorrow near Chennai, the wind speed is very high and sea became rough. We are afraid that tomorrow the weather will be severe.
From yesterday we are contacting with our owner and agent through Master to take us to shelter as the waves are banging on the vessel and stability is not good as fuel discharged and ballast drained out from aft part of the vessel.”
The officer said “they (ship owner) assured us that today they will take us to shelter but till now no action taken. Please consider our safety of life.”
