PANAJI
A major tragedy was averted early Monday morning after a ferryboat named ‘Betim’, docked at the Chorao Island ramp, partially submerged in water. No passengers or crew were on board at the time of the incident, however, three motorcycles belonging to staff were submerged.
A high-level inquiry has been ordered by the River Navigation Department (RND) and the audit of all the ferry boats after the incident, which occurred during non-operational hours. Preliminary findings indicated that water may have accumulated inside one of the vessel's tanks, possibly due to rainwater entering through blocked drainage outlets.
Minister for River Navigation Subhash Phal Dessai, who visited the site, confirmed that the ferry’s submersion was likely caused by water entering into one of the six tanks that help the vessel float.
“Based on a verbal inquiry, the tanks, which are of the cylinder type, must remain sealed and dry. During heavy rains, if the water is not drained out, the tanks get flooded. In this case, while the ferry boat was parked, it drifted and water possibly got into the tank,” Phal Dessai said, adding that routine checks should have been conducted.
He further ordered an inquiry and audit of all the ferry boats. “The captain and others should regularly keep a check and throw out water. Whether negligence or what problems led to this will be known the facts after the inquiry,” he said.
RND Director Vikramsingh Raje Bhosale placed the blame on the coxswain stating it was the coxswain’s duty to check and drain the tanks. “That did not happen,” he stated, speaking to The Goan.
RND and the fire brigade officials rushed to the site and deployed large water pumps for a salvage operation. However, the process was delayed due to high tide, and the teams had to wait for low tide conditions. By evening, authorities decided to hire a private agency equipped with cranes and floating pontoons to recover the vessel.
“The salvage work will begin tomorrow (Tuesday). The ferry will be lifted using a crane and pontoons, after which we will take it for repairs,” Bhosale said.
The entire operation is expected to take around three days. Authorities have assured that ferry services on the Chorao route will continue uninterrupted, with five other ferries already operating.
Bhosale confirmed that the ferry was structurally intact. “The boat is in working condition, there is no structural breach in the hull... Rainwater from the deck may have entered the tank due to outlet blockages. We initially planned to remove the water at low tide and let it float again with the next high tide,” he said.
He also asserted that the ferry had undergone complete repairs and was certified for safe operations in February 2025, with its next survey due in February 2026.
Speaking on the condition of ferry boats across the state, the RND Director revealed that while there is no fixed operational lifespan specified in the rules, the department condemns ferries after 15 years.
“At present, two ferry boats have crossed that age. One has already been condemned, and the second, operating on the Dauji route will be decommissioned soon. Both will be replaced with traditional ferryboats,” he added.
