‘Miscreants left only a screw to support ferry’s rudder plate’

Solar vessel’s technical committee to meet tomorrow

The masterminds behind the attempt to sabotage solar ferry Aditya were aware of the vessel’s three surveillance cameras, say State Water Transport Department officials.

In the wake of widespread demand for the speedy completion of probe into the attempt to sabotage Aditya, the first solar-powered ferry in India, the vessel’s technical committee is set to meet on Monday to decide on whether to withdraw it from service and dry-dock it, or to deploy underwater cameras to capture how the attempt was made to disengage its twin rudders.

Senior officials in the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) that operates the vessel in Vaikom-Thavanakadavu (near Cherthala) route said the names of a technical expert who had no role in the vessel’s manufacture but had sound knowledge of its drawings, and that of a disgruntled employee who possibly leaked out technical details, have been passed on to the police. The police are keen on having the vessel dry-docked for detailed forensic examination. This is a cumbersome procedure and would mean withdrawing it from service for up to a month. Another alternative is to use a crane to lift its rear portion where the rudder is located and carrying out a detailed evaluation.

“The role of West Kochi-based gangs who have a history of doing such sabotage too must be probed. The miscreants played safe and took the underwater route since they knew of the vessel’s three surveillance cameras that captured visuals within and outside the ferry. They left only one screw to support the rudder plate and removed 11 others so that the srank (driver) of the vessel would lose control of it in the middle of the waterbody,” they said.

Other attempts

A technical expert associated with its design said a couple of technical experts had made attempts to garner details such as the vessel’s drawings in the past since 2013. Their requests were turned down on the ground of this being an intellectual property, though they approached the State government and the High Court. Attempts were also made to portray that the solar-powered vessel had technological flaws and that it could not carry 75 people per trip from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ultimately, they were proven wrong since it was, and is even now, operating the scheduled 22 daily trips in the route.

Referring to the possible tragedy that would have occurred if the vessel had drifted away during windy weather or under pressure of waves due to disengaged rudders, he said that the ‘srank’ would be unable to steer it in the safe direction. This would mean that it could ram other vessels or drift away further into the waterbody. It would even become difficult to tow it to safety using another boat. The masterminds knew well that the rudders were the sole exposed devices they could tamper with, he added.

In the meantime, John Fernandes, MLA, has sought a comprehensive and speedy probe into the sabotage attempt which would have endangered the life of 75 passengers within days of the vessel being commissioned.