Port authorities asked to check mishaps

NEW DELHI: After the loss of four vessels and death of four seamen due to inclement weather, the Shipping Ministry on Tuesday asked the port authorities to gear up their emergency response machinery and inspect the sea-worthiness of the ships.

Recently five merchant ships were grounded and four sailors killed in the Indian coastal waters due to rough weather conditions off the Andaman Islands, New Mangalore Port, Vadakara, Khanderi Islands and Porbandar, according to an official release here.

Chairing a high-level meeting here Shipping Minister T R Baalu said steps are needed to be taken to improve emergency response and preparedness to mitigate such incidents in future.

He asked port authorities to ensure that Masters of all vessels leaving ports were adequately cautioned about the prevailing weather conditions. He asked them to ensure that during inclement weather vessels at anchor kept their engines on standby and sea-worthy, it said.

"The Mercantine Marine Department has been instructed to undertake rigorous inspection of vessels, which are 20 years old, to ensure their safety and accident-free voyages," the release added.