Mumbai:
Defense Minister A K Anthony is seeking a report from the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma on how the MT Pavit managed to enter Juhu Beach undetected. He said the MV Pavit entering Juhu should be viewed as a serious security threat.
The 21-year old ship, MT Pavit, flying a Panama flag, drifted to Mumbai on Sunday from Ras Al Madrakah in Oman following engine failure and flooding of its engine room. Incidentally, two days ago, the approximately 70 metres long ship had sent out a distress call to Britain's Maritime Rescue Coordination Committee (MRCC), following which Indian Coast Guard authorities had organised a rescue operation. An Indian ship, MT Jag Pushpa, was diverted to rescue the 13 crew on board the Pavit and they were taken to Sikka port in Gujarat.
After the Coast Guard received intimation of the ship being grounded near Juhu beach, it sent out its vessel ICG Amrit Kaur and a helicopter to assess the situation. Thousands of Mumbaikars turned up at Juhu beach on Sunday evening to view the ship nestling in the waters.
Last month, June 17, a condemned cargo ship, MV Wisdom, was similarly stuck at Juhu beach but was finally towed away on July 2.