Mumbai`s port re-opens to smaller vessels after ship collision

MUMBAI`s port facilities partially re-opened yesterday with the arrival of a ship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and the announcement that docks would be accessible to ships drawing nine metres or less at high tide, Bloomberg reports.

An Indian navy vessel would escort ships admitted into the port area at a top speed of four knots, said a port executive. Mumbai Port, which may open its channel too, is expected to admit only smaller vessels, he said.


The nearby ports were shut to all vessels after 300 containers from the 2,314-TEU MSC Chitra fell in the sea off Mumbai after a collision with the 41,829-ton bulk carrier Khalijia 3.


Opening the ports, one of which is India`s prime container gateway, was crucial as it could cause an immediate loss of US$4 billion to Indian exports, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said, according to Lloyd`s List.


"Sooner or later, traders may be asked to pay the demurrage, detention and other charges like congestion charges for no fault of theirs. To pre-empt such a situation, we have approached the government," said FIEO director general Ajay Sahai.


Meanwhile, a preliminary investigation by Geneva`s Mediterranean Shipping Company of the MSC Chitra`s "black box recorder" has revealed that "under the rules of navigation" the other vessel owned by Kuwait`s Gulf Rocks Company "was significantly in error", reported London`s Containerisation International.


The MSC statement said: "From the recording it is clear that the MSC Chitra was properly proceeding outbound within the main navigation channel when the Khalija 3, with salvage tugs in attendance, left what we believe was the Khalija 3`s anchorage position, and crossed the fairway ahead of the MSC Chitra heading generally southbound and turning to port [left of the ship`s bow].


"For reasons not known to us the Khalija 3 unexpectedly continued turning to port and came back to cross the fairway again, now heading in a generally northbound direction, and struck the MSC Chitra`s port side while it was still properly navigating in the main channel."


But the Khalija 3, as a "distressed vessel", could stand a better chance under the "rules of navigation" because at the time of collision, it was described to be "in salvage" hence all vessels would have been cautioned by the port captain to be "on watch", said the CI report.


The MSC statement said the Khalija 3 "salvaged from an earlier incident on July 22" was heading to Mumbai port to offload shipments at the time of collision. On the other hand, the bulk carrier was reportedly heading from Mumbai to China with 30,000 tonnes of steel coil, according to the Lloyd`s List Intelligence casualties database quoted by CI. The vessel was however, flooded due to a cracked hull, which led to the evacuation of the crew.


The collision caused "extensive damage" to the MSC vessel heading from Mumbai to Gujarat`s Port of Mundra on India`s west coast, breaking a few of its fuel tanks and dispersing its containers in water. However, the ship now "appeared to be stable" with the pollution "reduced to a very low level and perhaps stopped altogether," said MSC.


"Professional" salvagers are expected to take 45 days "to stabilise the ship" and retrieve the boxes from water. The Khalijia 3 meanwhile is reportedly in anchorage at a smaller Mumbai port, offloading steel coils, according to the American Shipper.


In the meantime, Mumbai police have filed a case against the master and crew of both the vessels on charges pertaining to the environment; careless vessel navigation; risking lives; and mischief causing damage said Lloyds List. The MSC Chitra captain was earlier reported to have obtained interim bail.