The mission to tow the Lucky seven on 10th Sept has failed. The attempt fizzled out and the operation was abandoned at this time.
I was at the Miramar beach from the start of the operation along with a friend of mine (ex-member of the GCZMA), and another Goan person an expert who was earlier attached to Arihant Ship breakers. The vessel started drifting towards the starboard side due to the heavy currents and because the propeller of the port side which might have been grounded which acted as a fulcrum for turning the vessel towards the right. Now the bow of the vessel is pointing towards the beach. It looked to me that the vessel might have already ruptured. The high pressure water pumps its output outlet to the starboard side seemed to be less than the intake of sea water due to rupture if any, which means there was a seepage through a new hole or a crack which might have happened during the towing operation by the tug. The operation was abandoned probably to the snap of tow cable much before the high tide set down because we could see every one in the deck resting. I was told by the person called Sagardip who was among us that a heavy ton weight anchor and heavy concrete blocks including chains were already off loaded much before the operation. ( see photo ) He was not sure about the propellers removal. He was at the site before me and ex-GCZMA member. We photographed the vessel from various angles. We observed that people could sit at the verge of the beach as it has formed a so called platform of 1 meter height ( approx) due to the vessel acting as a sea breaker (photo is available). On a positive note, the vessel was seen rolling after she was floated and the tilt has been much minimized. That means if everything is fine the operation can be resumed tomorrow or some other time when high tide is favorable. Any rupture if taken place needs to be repaired before the next operation. I am concerned about cracks that might have developed under the ships engine/generators. These will not be visible and that is the reason it needs under water studies or dry docking. I was told by the owner's representative who was present on the beach said Lucky seven is a double bottom vessel. The thickness of the double bottom plate might have reduced according to the age of the vessel which needs to be checked up by acoustic sensors testing equipment at the dry dock for validity of the vessel to comply under mercantile ( MMD) Act and shipping rules. During an earlier discussion in the morning with one Mr Tariq, representative of the vessel owner, told me that the Lucky Seven after inspection and repairs at Jaigad, should be back in the river Mandovi within the period of 3 months. My friend ex-member of GCZMA being an expert on environmental issues feels that there is a severe erosion and damage to the beach and environment due to these operational activities. Stephen Dias Former NIO Technical Officer.-E1 Worked on NIO Research vessels RV Gaveshani and ORE Sagar Kanya operation including dry docking at Garden Reach Calcutta and Mumbai. 10.9.2017
