Mahim Bay

fishing trawler

Services India Ltd

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The vessel photographed hours after it capsized on May 25

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Cuffe Parade

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More than six months after it capsized off Bandra, luxury floating restaurant Ark Deck Bar has finally been cleared from the navigation channel. A salvage company appointed for removing the wreckage re-floated it on November 29—after several failed attempts by the owner—and took it toso that it doesn’t block the passage of other vessels.It will now be cut into pieces, brought to the shore in a week, and sold as scrap. Avior, a 48-year-old, was revamped into a floatel instead of being sent to the scrapyard—internationally, vessels are scrapped after 25-30 years of service—and put into service as Ark Deck Bar in December last year. It hit a rock on May 25 this year, which tore open a hole in its hull, just hours before it was to host a party for 240 people. All 15 staffers on board were rescued as the boat listed and capsized. Just the day before the accident, the Maharashtra Maritime Board had asked all vessels to be removed owing to inclement weather, but Ark Deck Bar stayed on, for the last party of the season.After the owner of the vessel failed to retrieve the wreckage, Maharashtra Maritime Board appointed private salvage company Deep Waterfor the task in October. The company promised to have the job done in three weeks but faced a number of challenges. “The entire stretch is rocky and we could work only in high tides. We had to take great care in taking our salvage vessel there because there was the danger of it getting grounded,” said a member of the team.Sanjay Sharma, chief ports officer of Maharashtra Maritime Board, said the salvage team had to plug a number of leaks. “They removed a lot of muck, and re-floated the vessel using airbags. The salvage company was appointed by the owner. We have taken a security deposit of Rs 50 lakh from the owner to remove the wreckage and will return it only when the boat is cleared.”He said with the vessel being taken to Mahim, the navigation channel is now clear. “It will be cut and removed as we don’t want to take any chance of it listing again.”Mahendra Doshi, Avior’s owner who had struck deal with a company owned by Vikrant Chandwadkar, Cookie Singh and Antim Totla, to convert his fishing trawler into a floatel, said the vessel will be brought to the shore in seven days. “We will have to sell it as scrap. Those who ran Ark Deck Bar have not turned up (for the salvage operations). We will take up the issue with them.gaya, woh ho gaya. I am in loss.”After Avior listed, Chandwadkar, Singh and Totla washed their hands of the vessel. On Sunday, Chandwadkar told Mirror: “Our role is over. The salvage operation is between the owner of Avior, Maharashtra Maritime Board and the insurance company.” Singh did not respond to calls.Sunil Davane, assistant inspector of Sagari-1 police station, which has jurisdiction from Bandra to, said the police had to send repeated reminders to the owner to remove the vessel, since it was an impediment in the navigation channel. “Many fishermen suffered because of it. Now that the boat is out of the channel, the only option is to cut it and bring it ashore.”In 1997, a vessel—Zheng Dong— hit the coast off Carter Road in Bandra West during rough weather. An entrepreneur wanted to convert it into a restaurant, but residents of Carter Road moved the court against it. The vessel was finally cut into pieces and removed. In 2010, a cargo ship—MSC Chitra—listed 10 km from theafter it collided with another ship. After blocking the channel for a year, it was removed.