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Title: Regarding sinking of a Mangolian Vessel in Paradeep Port.
SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): Sir, the Black Rose, a Mongolia based vessel, has sunk off Paradip Port. It was carrying iron ore from Haldia and was re-loading at Paradip when it tilted and sunk, thereby restricting the traffic to Paradip Port. Though 26 of the crew members were saved, a Ukrainian engineer’s body was later recovered. Leaking of oil from the vessel and its movement towards the shore has caused panic in the area. The sinking of this vessel has caused doubts on the sincerity of the officials of the Traffic Department of Paradip Port as well as cargo shippers and stevedores. The officials, cargo shippers and stevedores should carefully handle the iron ore for safe transportation but no measures and supervisions were taken by the concerned officials to measure content of the iron ore loaded in that ill-fated vessel. The shippers and the stevedores did not verify the quality of the cargo and as they loaded it for commercial purposes they ignored the safety aspect. There is an urgent need to conduct a high level probe to ascertain the cause of the sinking of this vessel. Though a Mongolian ship was carrying iron ore from Haldia, why was it being re-loaded at Paradeep port? Where was this ship destined to travel? Was it to go to China? Is there any safety and security lapse in Paradip port by allowing private surveyors to certify a vessel after their arrival and not engaging Government certified surveyors? I would not say that sinking of this Mongolian ship was deliberate but this incident has occurred due to official negligence. They should be taken to task. The debris of the ill-fated vessel should be cleared from the sea as the owner of the vessel is yet to contact the Port Trust Authorities. I would like to get a categorical answer from the Government in this regard.