Kollam: As the deadline to move Hansita ends on Thursday, authorities are clueless ?as the vessel that washed ashore in Kollam remains beached despite massive efforts to pull it off. The district administration had warned to take legal action against its operators if they failed to reposition the ship apparently posing a threat to the shore by intensifying sea wrath. Meanwhile, the ship has turned a major crowd puller with people even from outside the district visiting it on a daily basis.
“The operators have asked for an extension of deadline despite strong direction by the administration to move the ship at the earliest. But it is not easy as it is partly buried in the sandbed. The government also cannot take over the ship which might bring in huge financial burden,” a high official from the harbour engineering department told DC.
After several failed attempts to raise the anchor and pull the ship back to deep waters using tugs, the ship authorities with the direction of district administration sought technical assistance of Kerala Metals and Minerals Ltd to move the ship. Based on its tips, attempts are on to pull the ship by using the advantage of the high tide prevalent in the Arabian Sea.
Efforts are on to pass seawater around the ship base by constructing temporary bunds using sand sacks. The high tide will last until July 24. Technical issues have made the ship anchor offshore near Kollam port for last three years as its authorities failed to pay the wharfage charges which had exceeded Rs 40 lakhs. Hansita is a Chinese ship brought to Kollam port by the Indian company Megha shipping on March 26, 2013.
