the goan I network
VASCO
Nine crew members had a narrow escape when a barge sank in the sea at the outer anchorage of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on Monday night.
According to sources at MPT, the incident took place at about 9.30 pm when the barge was alongside a floating crane ‘MV Maria Laura’ at the outer anchorage.
The Barge ‘MV Dattaram 1’, owned by a Vasco-based businessman, was moored alongside the flowing crane ‘MV Maria Laura’, which was loading cargo from the ship ‘MV Nord Neptune’ anchored on the west of the port’s outer anchorage, on the barge.
While the exact cause of the sinking of the barge was unclear, sources suspect that rough weather at the outer anchorage had caused the barge to strike against the ship and crane on several occasions, causing structural damaged to the barge.
Some sources said the barge had developed a crack and broke into two before sinking into the sea.
As the barge began to sink, the nine crew members on the barge quickly jumped to safety on to the floating crane ‘MV Maria Laura’.
When contacted, Atul Jadhav, former president of the Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) confirmed the incident, but added that the barge did not carry much fuel and hence, there would hardly be any pollution in the sea.
“The barge was carrying a cargo of around 1,600 tonnes of iron ore cargo, much less than its full capacity. Secondly, all crew members are safe and the barge is fully insured, so there is no much of an issue,” said Jadhav.
Admitting he was uncertain about the cause, Jadhav believed that rough weather may have played a role.
“The weather was rough and sometimes there are strong waves in the sea. These strong waves can create a vacuum below the barge and increase its bending moments. Sometimes when two huge waves collide below the barge, the vacuum increases and the could be a crack on the structure on the barge.”
“It is uncertain whether the barge broke into two, as we have not met the master of the barge. But the crack could have been formed in the barge, which could be the primary reason for the barge to have sunk,” said Jadhav.
