Dutch Firm to Salvage Naphtha-laden Ship Stuck off Goa Coast

Panaji, Nov 18 (PTI) Almost a month after a naphtha- laden ship ran aground off the Goa coast, the order to salvage the vessel and empty it would be given to a private firm on Tuesday, Chief Minsiter Pramod Sawant said on Monday.

Sawant told reporters a Dutch-based marine engineering firm will be entrusted the work of salvaging the ship loaded with naphtha.

"Mormugao Port Trust will issue an order to the firm to salvage the ship on Tuesday. The Director General of Shipping, which has been monitoring the process, has informed the same to the state government, the chief minister said.

He said the Dutch company would be tasked with unloading naphtha from the tanker, which ran aground off the Goa coast in the last week of October, and also salvage it.

Sawant said action would be initiated against those responsible for the running aground of the ship only after the vessel is salvaged and danger posed due to its presence is over.

The initial attempts to salvage the unmanned tanker, Nu Shi Nalini, had failed, prompting the state government to involve private players do salvage it.

Sawant has been drawing flak for failure to salvage the ship, which poses threat to environment and marine life along the state's coast.

The Director General of Shipping has formed a five- member committee to overseeoff loading of naphtha from the vessel.

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