MUMBAI FERRY TRAGEDY - A STRAW THAT NEEDS TO BE WEIGHED

Rescue Operations

FAIR WEATHER SHOCKS

Mumbai ferry incident on 18^th Dec resulting in loss of over 13 lives reminds how imperfect things can get even in fair weather and broad day-light. It is a sad day for Mumbai ferry services which havebeen operating for over 100 years with a reasonably decent safety record. It is also a sad day for the Indian Navy, with CNS Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi offering condolences and ordering an enquiry.

CAN OF WORMS

Indian maritime regulators (Directorate General of Shipping and State Maritime boards) should see this as a significant straw and not wait for the camel’s back to break.

MV Herald of Free enterprise (HOF)English channel passenger ferry, sank in a matter of 90 seconds killing 193 persons (passengers/crew) just about 0.7 Km from Zeebrugge berth(Belgium) in 1987. There seems to be a need to revisit and learn lessons from history.

Life saving appliance (Life jackets, Life boats, Life rafts etc) on board ships are designed for a ‘distress’ scenario or foreseeable worst case scenario and not for bizarre incidents such as this. The manner in which the high speed supposedly a Naval MARCOS boat hit the passenger ferry at about 60 km/hr speed (About 30 knots) is almost like a missile for the wooden tender boats. With just few seconds to act it is unlikely that passengers will be level headed in that moment of distress and wear life jackets with their head above their shoulders. The fact that the boat had passengers in excess of their certified capacity is not something extra-ordinary East of the Suez. This however, does reflect the inadequate monitoring and control measures by Maharashtra Maritime Board, the authority which surveys a boat before a license is issued by Mumbai port trust. Is it a case of poor accountability and responsibility by Mr Somebody, Mr Everybody, Mr Anybody OR Mr. NOBODY?

UPGRADING THE KALI PEELI TAXIS OF MUMBAI HARBOUR

The incident is an eye opener and an opportunity for the age old kali peelitaxi's (wooden boats) of Mumbai harbour, operating for over 100 yrs, to be upgraded to modern fibre glass boats with AIS fitted on them for digital tracking, to match the 21^st century Atal Setu trans harbour link bridge over the harbour. Mumbai, India’s maritime hub, needs to set the trend andalign with international standards for other Indian portsto follow.

Further as a matter of safety and good seamanship practice, all passengers travelling in boats which do not have life rafts and/or life boats, should don the life jackets prior boarding and hand-over at destination on or prior disembarking.

CRICKET IS TO BE PLAYED IN WANKHEDE STADIUM NOT MARINE DRIVE

Sea trails are conducted in open sea not in and around port channels where ships and boats are navigating and certainly not in Port limits.

Naval standards of safety are profound given the number of drills they conduct each day, thus giving a Safety talk to Naval personnel is like selling ice to an Eskimo. However, the claim of “double failure” of Engine and Steering is hard to swallow for any mariner.

Some questions that come to the mind of every mariner are:

-Who was at the Helm of the speed boat (experience and qualifications)?

-Why was Emergency STOP not activated if Engines were a problem?

-If steering was not working then how was the craft being manoeuvredin a zig-zag and circular manner prior impact, since this is not possible without a functional rudder?

-Who and how was permission given for sea trials in port limits?

Navy has a lot to answer, since this incident involves a civil craft (Boat) and civilian passengers, thus it will be prudent for Navy and investigators to come out with the facts. Any cover up is unlikely to remain under wraps for long. Thus if SOP’s have been ignored and if heads have to roll, then so be it. American born safety research scientist William Heinrichwould be turning in his grave if his 1931 accident triangle theory is ignored.

By Capt. Naveen S Singhal is a Shipping and Marine consultant. Member Singapore Shipping Association and empanelled with IMO as a specialist consultant.