MSC: Chitra not at fault in Mumbai collision

MSC: Chitra not at fault in Mumbai collision    Ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. on Tuesday deflected culpability for a weekend ship collision near Mumbai left one of its containerships listing at a severe angle in the Arabian Sea.
   About 300 to 400 containers from the 2,314-TEU MSC Chitra had fallen overboard due to the angle at which the ship grounded, local news outlets reported Tuesday. It will likely take a week to recover the overboard boxes and rescue boxes still on board.
   Though there has been no determination as to the cause of the Aug. 7 accident, MSC said a black box recording of the incident from its ship would indicate the other ship, the breakbulk carrier Khalijia 3, was at fault.
   'While the precise circumstances of the collision will be determined by an inquiry by the Mumbai authorities, we have performed a preliminary review of the vessel's black box recorder,' MSC said in a statement. 'From the recording it is clear that the MSC Chitra was properly proceeding outbound within the main navigation channel when the Khalijia 3, with salvors' escort tugs in attendance, left what we believe was the Khalijia 3's anchorage position, and crossed the fairway ahead of the MSC Chitra heading generally southbound and turning to port.
   'For reasons not known to us the Khalijia 3 unexpectedly continued turning to port, and came back to cross the fairway again, now heading in a generally northbound direction, and struck the MSC Chitra on the MSC Chitra’s port side while the MSC Chitra was still properly navigating in the main channel. Therefore, it would appear that under the rules of navigation the Khalijia 3 was significantly in error. We of course await the results of the full inquiry in due course.'
   Reports earlier this week suggested the bulk carrier was being moved from one point at anchorage to another.
   The collision has shut operations at India's biggest and most important container gateway, the Jawaharlal Nehru/Nhava Sheva port complex near Mumbai. A smaller port in Mumbai, where the Khalijia 3 has berthed and is discharging its load of steel coils, has remained open.
   The MSC vessel was en route from Mumbai to the Northwest Indian port of Mundra when the collision occurred.
   The salvage job on the MSC vessel is expected to take as long as 45 days. MSC said 'all resources that we can obtain are being mobilized, especially for the floating containers because of the adverse effect they are having on other operations at Mumbai Port.
      'Some of the MSC Chitra's fuel tanks were ruptured by the collision, and stopping the pollution was a priority,' the carrier said. 'The latest news is that the vessel appears to be stable and the pollution has reduced to a very low level and perhaps stopped altogether. There are currently spring tides in Mumbai and the situation will be watched carefully as tidal heights fall.”
   'MSC, the salvors, and our vessel's managers have met with the authorities and have formulated plans of action with regard to each aspect of the casualty, which are being put into effect immediately. Priority is being given to recovering containers and stabilizing the condition of the vessel,' MSC said. ' Eric Johnson