Goa port authorities file complaint as dry dock partially sinks

The only major port in Goa Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has filed a complaint against Western India Shipyard Limited (WISL) alleging mischief, after a dry dock partially sank on Wednesday, sparking fears of a potential oil spill.

On Tuesday, the tilting of the dry dock -- used to repair ships -- and minor spillage of oil from its hollowed body triggered panic among the workers of the shipyard.

"A complaint has been filed against the shipyard. Care is being taken to tidy the situation," Mormugao Port Trust public relations officer Seby Coutinho told IANS.

Officials at the Harbour Police Station in South Goa said MPT's complaint against WISL had been filed under Section 434 of the Indian Penal Code.

The WISL ship repair facility, where the dry dock has partially sunk, is located on MPT grounds in Mormugao sub-district, located 50 km from Panaji.

While no WISL official was available for comment, a spokesperson for the Indian Coast Guard said dry docks have little to do with oil storage, so there was no danger of an oil-spill.

An MPT official, however, said that minor oil spill on Tuesday could have resulted from some oil residue in the caverns of the dry dock.

MPT chairperson I. Jeyakumar told reporters earlier on Wednesday that oil booms had been placed around the dry dock in order to prevent any spillage.

--IANS

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