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A decade on, Princess removal still a distant dream

HERALD
June 5,2010
When a 240-metre long ore carrier ran aground off the Candolim coast on a stormy night on June 6, 2000, no one would have expected the ship to remain at the site for the next ten years.

State governments have changed over the years, but the ‘MV River Princess’ continues to languish about 300 metres from the seashore, much to the dismay of environmentalists and residents in the area.

When contacted, local MLA Agnelo Fernandes said: “The work on the tenders has begun, but it will take time which is very unfortunate for the villagers of Candolim. Hopefully, the process will be expedited at a later stage to get rid of the stranded vessel.”

“The government is least bothered about the damage to the environment or sufferings of the people. They are, however, quick to make rosy speeches about efforts being made to remove the River Princess,” he added.

In 2001, the government passed the Goa Tourist Places (protection and maintenance) Act, 2001 in a bid to remove the River Princess.

Two years later, the government passed an order claiming that Salgaocar Mining Industries Ltd had forfeited vessel and that the ship was now vested with the government.

The government then issued tenders to remove the ship and though the US-based Smith International bagged the tender, it claimed the time-period to remove the ship was too short and eventually turned down the tender. Crosschem International Ltd of UK then bagged the tender, but was unable to remove the ship.

In 2006, the government appoints Jaisu Shipping Pvt Ltd from Gujarat to remove the ship within a period of 90 days, but the company too failed to honour the contract within the initial deadline.

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A decade on, Princess removal still a distant dream

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