From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Mar 05 2009 - 09:20:38 EST
*Mangalore: Ill-fated Ship ‘Den Den’ to be Taken Apart Soon
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (TU/CN)*
*Mangalore, Mar 5:* MV Den Den, a cargo ship which sank off Tannir Bavi
beach in June 2007 is to be dismantled soon.
A crew from a ship-breaking company in Gujarat has arrived here a couple of
weeks ago, and is all set to break up the ship within a few days. It is said
that the company has bought the ship for Rs 3 crore to turn it into scrap.
Rajesh Yadav, a cutter, said that the dismantling work will begin within a
couple of days. “We began preparations two weeks ago. The work of
demolishing the ship will start once the pulling machines are ready. About
30 other expert personnel of the company will join us shortly”, he said.
The UAE-bound cargo ship carrying 7,500 tonnes of furnace slag from New
Mangalore Port was anchored in the outer anchorage of the port following
engine failure. Though efforts were made to repair the engine, the rough
weather in the sea added to the problem.
Due to an increase in the wind velocity, the ship broke loose from its
anchor in the sea, and was grounded. Of the 24 crew members, 20 were rescued
and one was reported missing. Three crew members died.
Though the district administration and coast guard attempted to rescue the
ship, the rough sea did not permit them to reach the ship.
The 30-year-old ship was registered in Eritrea. The ship had crew members of
mixed nationalities, including people from Africa, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The loss of the cargo was estimated at around $78,750.
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