Cyclone Nisarga: MV Karnika Cruise Ship Cleared To Move To Safer Waters
Mumbai:
Bombay High Court Authorized Cruise Ship MV Karnika, Currently Anchored In Mumbai Port After Arrest, To Move To Safer Waters Outside City Due To Cyclone Nisarga Expected To Hit The Coast from Maharashtra this afternoon.
The vessel was placed under arrest on March 17, 2020 following a financial dispute between the owners of the vessel.
Judge AK Menon heard a request on behalf of the vessel on Tuesday asking for permission to travel to safer waters because the projected path of the cyclone path indicates that it could cover the Mumbai region and other ports of Maharashtra, before heading towards the coast of Gujarat.
Depending on the application, given the size of the vessel, it could be impacted and possibly damaged. The shipping company asked the court for permission to temporarily leave Mumbai for safer waters and return after the cyclone hit.
According to the plea, the MV Karnika is a 14-deck passenger cruise ship and currently has nearly 63 crew members on board.
Counsel for the Bombay Port Trust Deepak Motiwala also submitted a request, claiming that the ship posed a serious threat to other ships docked in the port and that it would therefore be advisable to move the MV Karnika to safer waters.
He stated in the request that bringing the ship to the dock at this stage is not possible because with the currents caused by the weather conditions, damage can be caused to the port and other ships.
After hearing the arguments and examining the facts, the court noted that, given the cyclone and the impending weather conditions, no number of tugs will be able to control the MV Karnika at its current location.
I am of the opinion that MV Karnika and her crew and the others should not be jeopardized and should be allowed to leave for safer waters, as the port trust may suggest in consultation with the master of the ship, avoid the cyclone path, said Justice Menon.
The court accepted the undertaking submitted by the shipowner, M / s Jalesh Cruises Mauritius Ltd, that the ship would be brought back to port after the cyclone passed. The High Court ordered the harbor trust to ensure that the vessel immediately leaves the place where it is currently anchored.
He also ordered the master of the ship, its commander in chief / captain of staff and its chief engineer to hand over their passports to the port trust.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
