New Delhi:
Indian Navy warship INS Shardul has safely brought MV Kavaratti (Lakshadweep Development Corporation Limited-run ship) on which a fire had broken out last month, to Kochi, the Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday.
As per the Ministry, a fire had broken onboard MV Kavaratti in the starboard engine room on November 30, which was subsequently extinguished by the crew.
However, because of the damage caused by the fire, the ship could not start its engines and had anchored off Androth island on November 30, awaiting towing assistance for repairs.
Based on a request from the Lakshadweep administration for towing the ship from Androth to Kochi for repairs, the Indian Navy in a quick move dispatched INS Shardul to Androth for rendering assistance to the disabled ship on December 16.
INS Shardul reached the area on December 17. An expert team of officers and sailors of INS Shardul along with Officer-in-Charge Naval Detachment Androth Lietanant Commander Bishnu C Panda embarked MV Kavaratti am December 17 and undertook a detailed assessment of the damage.
During the interaction, the Naval crew assisted the crew of MV Kavaratti in starting the ship’s port engine. Towing gears were passed to MV Kavaratti by INS Shardul and towing trials were conducted with MV Kavaratti.
The trials provided the much-needed confidence and reassurance to the crew of MV Kavaratti towards towing operations in case of failure of the port main engine en route.
After rehearsing various emergencies, INS Shardul escorted MV Kavaratti safely to Kochi PM on December
18
. During the transit, personnel from INS Shardul and Naval Detachment Androth were embarked on board to provide assistance to the MV in case of any machinery breakdown.
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