After the completion of repairs to the ship, M.T. Pratibha Cauvery sailed out from the Chennai Port on Saturday, under the new name Cauvery , to Chittagong in Bangladesh.
Sources said that the ship would go to the scrap yard as all its licences and insurance had expired and it had been declared ‘unseaworthy’ for transportation purposes.
When Cyclone Nilam crossed the coast on October 31, the tanker got stranded at the Elliots Beach here, and six sailors lost their lives. It was later docked in Chennai Port as the sailors’ families sought compensation. Meanwhile, the ship was involved in litigations in the Madras and Calcutta high courts.
After clearing the dues and getting clearance from Mercantile Marine Department, it was allowed to sail on Saturday. The owners had paid to the Chennai Port Rs. 25 lakh towards various dues.
On May 16, the Madras High Court confirmed the sale of the ship to Baltanas Shipping Ltd., Charlestown Nevis, for Rs.16 crore.
