Media reports suggest that Pratibha Shipping approached a few banks to secure funds for undertaking salvage operations of its small oil tanker and to meet other expenses related to it.
Some days ago, strong winds from cyclone Nilam pushed the the tanker from the Chennai port’s anchor to the shores of the Marina. It is learnt that the salvage operations is likely to cost huge amount.
The stranded vessel had 3.5 tonne of diesel oil and 357 tonnes of furnace oil. The tanker, which finally ran aground off Besant Nagar’s Elliott’s beach, had 37 crew members on board. The ship’s captain asked his crew to leave the ship with a lifeboat carrying 22 sailors. Within minutes, the boat capsized.
It is learnt that the company may have to spend nearly Rs 40 crore for salvage operations as well as to foot the hotel and hospital bills of the crew of the vessel, Pratibha Cauvery.
The ship is at present located about 3 nautical miles south of the Chennai port, and is beached near the lighthouse.
The company is making arrangements to immediately secure Rs 20-25 crore to pay the hotel and hospital bills for the crew; compensation for the six crew members who died and wage bills for the other crew members. The 31 members of the crew have been put up in various hotels across the city.
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