PANAJI
The River Navigation Department (RND) has recommended penal action against the crew of the ‘Betim’ ferry boat, which submerged in the early morning of June 24 after one of its tanks was reportedly flooded with water.
In its preliminary inquiry report, submitted to the government and placed on the Floor of the House, the Department has held crew members accountable for the incident stating that the crew failed in their duty to shift the ferry boat backward after the water level was reduced. Instead, they allowed the ferry to remain tied at the jetty bollards during high water level.
“If the crew was alert during the night hours, they could have loosened the ropes and taken the ferry boat behind as the water was recessing. But the crew did not do the same as they were resting and could not stop the water entering from the water outlays behind the engine room,” RND said.
“In order to avoid such incidents in future, the crew on board of the ferry boat ‘Betim’ should be penalized accordingly after conducting departmental inquiry,” RND recommended.
The RND said that as per the assessment done after being refloated with the help of a private agency, it was confirmed that there was no hole at the bottom plate or hull.
The department has also urged the Captain of Ports to appoint an Expert Committee of Naval Architect, Shipyard Surveyor, etc to assess the incident and provide the report for further necessary action.
RND said that the boat was repaired at the Marine Workshop, Betim and was later surveyed by the authorized surveyor in February 2025 and the fitness certificate was issued by the COP.
The partially submerged ‘Betim’ ferry boat was finally salvaged after 11 days on July 4.
