Kochi: Pappy, the refitted barge deployed temporarily to operate the Vypeen-Fort Kochi ferry service, developed engine trouble yet again and was swept away towards the sea mouth on Monday morning. A major mishap was averted as an alert crew of a fishing vessel operating in the region helped bring it back to the Fort Kochi jetty.
The incident happened at 7.30 am when the ferry boat was proceeding from Fort Kochi to Vypeen cutting across the 14-meter deep shipping canal. As it reached midway, an engine trouble developed and to the horror of the commuters, it was swept away towards the sea mouth by strong undercurrents.
“There was a problem in its gear disc. On Sunday too, a technical snag had forced ferry service being disrupted for over three hours,” police said. “The boat is not suitable for operation here. The Kochi Corporation is yet to give order for the double-engine boat it has promised to deplo,” said Francis Chammany, President, Vypeen Boat Passengers Association.
