The Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) in Gulf of Kutch issued alerts as about 17 containers slipped from MV Rajeev Gandhi, a vessel container of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), off Okha West coast on June 27 when the vessel was on the way to Mundra port.
Information from Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) reveals that 16 containers onboard the vessel were empty, while one contains high density polyethylene (HDPE).
Following this, the GMB sounded alert for ships approaching Gulf of Kutch as the containers floating in the sea pose danger to vessel traffic movement.
The GMB informed about the incident to all the authorities concerned like Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Director General of Shipping and SCI.
A tug from Jamnagar port has been deployed to keep a constant vigil over containers and push them towards coast.
GMB kept one tug Varun-1 on constant vigil and the same is moving around the location of containers to ward them off from channel and to warn passing vessels. VTMS too is conveying warnings (to ships), reports suggest.
GMB suggested SCI to hire available tugs with Mundra or Reliance or Essar to move the containers towards shallow waters for grounding.
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