BRAHMEKSHARA

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Tug sank in Vizhinjam

On Oct 28, 2018, at 4.30 a.m. the "Brahmekshara" sank at the Seaward Wharf of Vizhinjam Port four years after it was abandoned. Spilling oil and fuel was posing a threat to marine life and environment. Initially, none of the authorities including the Coastguard or fire department were ready to contain the spill claiming that the incident happened in Port's jurisdiction. The pollution control board, which tried to coordinate the damage control operations, was clueless on the steps to be taken as the Port had no equipment or facilities to skim spilt oil and contain the pollution. After hours of discussions, finally, the coastguard and fire department stepped in and used oil spill disbursement to control damages. The tug had around 3,000 litres of diesel and 2,500 litres of used oil on board. Measures had been taken to auction the ship after the owner abandoned it. But the boat was in a legal wrangle, and the State Bank of India stopped the procedure to auction due to some default by the owner. The wreckage could be removed only with the permission of the bank or the court. Thre Coastguard had warned the Port authorities about the tug. The Pollution Control Board authorities said that the site would be under its watch until the wreckage has been removed. Report with photo: https://deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/291118/thiruvananthapuram-tugboat-spills-oil-at-vizhinjam.html

Stranded tug issue takes a new turn

A new factor has entered into the tug-of-war between the crew and owners of the "Brahmekshara" which controversially docked at Vizhinjam since December 2015: the southwest monsoon. T. S. Sreekumar, the Malayali chief engineer stranded on board following a dispute over salary, warned that the vessel is short of equipment and is in extreme danger with weather turning rough. His latest letter in this regard to Mumbai-based Affable Fisheries Pvt Ltd., the owners, drew a demand on June 7, 2016, that he vacate the vessel. The demand came in reply to his request for mooring ropes, batteries and fuel oil to keep the vessel safe at port. The owners accused Sreekumar of hijacking and controlling the vessel. The letter also stated that he was no longer part of the crew, and that he would be held accountable for any damage to the vessel. In fact, Sreekumar has not been given immigration clearance which prevented him from leaving the vessel. Sreekumar had written to the company last week seeking equipment to keep the vessel safe in the choppy harbour waters being even short of mooring ropes. Once the monsoon sets in in earnest, the tug will also pose a threat to fishing vessels and other craft in the harbour. Earlier, Ports Minister Ramachandran Kadannapally, apprised of his plight, had assured that the matter would be looked into.

Crew asked to be signed off

The impasse involving the "Brahmekshara" which was docked at Vizhinjam for over three months now, took a new turn on Apr 6, 2016, with the crew - including the tug's Malayali chief engineer - petitioning Port officials to sign them off the vessel immediately. Separate petitions were filed before the Purser, Vizhinjam Port, and the Regional Port Officer who is stationed at Kollam. In their joint petition, the four crew comprising Chief Engineer T S Sreekumar, Junior Engineer A K Sivaprasad and two crew members said that they were mentally and physically exhausted by the forced stay aboard the vessel. Already a court order from the Magistrate Court, Neyyatinkara, has been issued to the authorities on Mar 26 stating that the vessel should be detained through proper channel. No action for the same has been taken, the petition said. They requested the authorities to take immediate steps to complete their immigration clearance procedures and sign them off the vessel. The crew also pointed out that they have families and loan and EMI payments to meet. According to the crew, their original contracts were for the duration of their assignment - running cargo from Tuticorin to Maldives and back. On Dec 1, 2015, short of potable water, the "Brahmekshara" entered Vizhinjam port, after being detained in Maldives on charges of damaging coral reefs. The tug has been docked at Vizhinjam ever since after a dispute erupted between the ten-member crew and the tug's Mumbai-based owner Affable Fisheries Pvt Ltd over salary. The captain, Venkatesh Pappu, had left the vessel on Dec 8, 21015. He was followed by five more crew on December 31. Sreekumar and three others chose to stay back. The captain - who says he is owed Rs 6.80 lakh as salary - and Sreekumar - who claims nearly Rs 7 lakh as dues - had lodged complaints with the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) and the Directorate General of Shipping.