# Claim dock has tilted further n May sink during monsoons
the goan I network
VASCO
Speaking to The Goan, a union leader Pandurang alias Mahesh Naik said it is almost two years since the dry dock was last put to use.
“Workers are worried to go on the dock as there is every possibility that the rusted metal plates could give way and this could imperil those workers who visit the dock to pump out water accumulated at the bottom of the dock,” said Naik.
“Since the last two years, we have somehow managed to keep the dry dock afloat by tying ropes to the dolphins. But since there has been no maintenance of the dock and the plates are rusted, our workers fear to get on board the dock to pump out water and carry out maintenance work.”
“The dry dock has tilted and we fear that during the monsoon and the rough weather, the ropes could snap and the dock could sink. This could then lead to marine pollution as it contains tonnes of engine oil and if the oil spills, it will spread to the entire area,” Naik added.
Naik said the union had sent several letters to the Goa State Pollution Control Board, MPT and other authorities, highlighting the danger, but added that no one had shown any concern to the impending disaster till date.
Pointing out to the ship ‘MV Qing’, which is still anchored at the WISL dock, Naik alleged that one year had passed since the ship had listed, but company officials had failed to pump out the oil from the engine rooms and secure the ship.
“They only removed the oil which leaked into the sea from the surface of the engine room, but have failed to remove the oil from the engine rooms. The GSPCB had also collected water samples but has failed to provide us with the report about water contamination due to the oil spillage,” he said.
When contacted, an MPT official said they were not aware of the tilting and said the site would be inspected.
The official said, “The dry dock is only a stationary platform where ships are mounted and repaired.”
