Two barges, part of fleet carrying heavy equipment from Karnataka on its way to Odisha, have run aground off the Karaikal coast.
MV Sushilagot stranded on Thursday evening, while the second followed suit in the early hours of Friday.
Early on Friday, MT Jaltara, owned by Mulund-based Amro Marines, and carrying pillar-assembling cranes, was found grounded near Arasalar, where it was anchored by its tow vessel for the night. The barge and its two tow vessels had been anchored at the mouth of the river Arasalar in the Karaikal harbour after the first barge ran aground about four nautical miles off the private Karaikal port.
The first barge, MV Sushila, owned by Thane-based Seven Star Marine, carrying dredging equipment, was grounded after the tug towing the boat snapped. It also had a suspected engine snag. The barge was between Vanjore and Pattinacherry, when the tug snapped. Its tow vessel ‘Seven Star’, along with the fleet, was forced to anchor in Karaikal harbour, at the mouth of the Arasalar, with the consent of the Fisheries Department for the night. However, as the waters were shallow, the second barge got grounded as well.
As of Friday afternoon, efforts are on to tow back MV Sushila. The barge fleet is en route from Honnavar Port in Karnataka to Paradip in Odisha via Pamban.
According to coastal police, there are seven crew members in both the barges, and efforts are on to tow them back into the sea. The crew members are awaiting high tide. There are no environmental concerns, as they have only heavy equipment.
