VASCO: A barge carrying iron ore suffered damages after its bottom brushed against the wreckage of a sunken barge in the Zuari rivulet off INS Gomantak during the early hours on Tuesday.
All the seven crew members onboard the barge were rescued by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel attached to the Mormugao Port Trust.
As per the sources at the Goa Barge Owners Association, the ill-fated barge ‘MV Neil,’ owned by M K Singh, was heading towards Dolphine point off Mormugao Port Trust in order unload the iron ore consignment brought from Sanvordem loading point.
When the barge reached off INS Gomantak at around 4.15 a.m, its bottom brushed against the wreckage of a sunken barge. And, soon water started entering engine room of the barge.
The captain of the barge immediately passed a message to the signal station which in turn intimated to the CISF authorities attached to the MPT about the incident.
Soon, the CISF personnel swung into action and reached to the barge with the help of a rescue boat provided by the MPT.
The CISF personnel rescued all seven crew members onboard. Presently, the iron ore consignment from the barge is being unloaded into another barge.
It was told that the ill-fated barge was carrying nearly 950 tonne of ore.
The total loss is yet to be ascertained, stated a source.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Singh disclosed that the salvage operation is on with the help of technical experts and senior crew members.
“I cannot disclose the exact loss at this moment,” he added.