VASCO: Efforts made to move the tug ‘MT Lotus’ ,that has ran aground at the Arossim beach, by Arihant Ship Breakers did not yield results on Friday. A visit to the site revealed that Arihant Ship Breakers did start the operation to move the tug on early Friday morning by bringing in necessary machinery like excavator, air compressor, a breaker besides others.
After moving the grounded tug, Arihant Ship Breakers intends to tow away the pontoon ‘Bhageerath,’
The workers at the site have excavated the sand surrounding the tug so that it can be moved during the time of high tide.
“We are focusing on moving the grounded tug first, and thereafter the pontoon will be towed away,” informed a worker engaged in the salvage operation.
“Most probably, the tug would be moved by late Friday night or else on Saturday,” stated the worker.
He said that efforts are being made to tow away the pontoon within the next couple of days.
The grounded pontoon will be moved from the Arossim beach soon as another pontoon is being brought in to assist in the salvage work, he added.
Meanwhile, it was informed that District Collector, South, Sachin Shinde had convened a meeting of the officials of the concerned departments to take stock of the grounded tug and pontoon, on Friday morning, at his office in Margao.
The meeting was attended by the deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate, Mormugao, officials of the Captain of Ports and Mormugao Port Trust and others.
It was decided to hold a site inspection as the towing away operation has been started by the Arihant Ship Breakers.