One of the biggest offshore oil rig vessels of the country, Badrinath (old name Gattisburg), is now stranded 1.9 nautical miles from Karwar port. It has been anchored near Devgadh island.

The vessel was headed to Singapore from Mumbai to get refitted. It developed serious engine problems and dropped anchor off Karwar port. Experts from Mumbai Great Offshore Company have been sent to fix the vessel’s problems.

The vessel had just finished a mission to remove the oil residues at two locations over 600 feet depth in the Arabian sea where MV Rock and MV Pavit had sunk off Mumbai coast sometime ago.

However, Badrinath sustained severe engine fatigue in the process, resulting in it getting stranded near Karwar on its way to Singapore. The Uttara Kannada district administration has allowed the vessel to be anchored near Devgadh island for carrying out the repairs and also providing logistic support to the crew.

The vessel did not have enough supplies when it left Mumbai and supplies like fuel, water and food are also being rushed.

Ports minister Krishna J Palemar said that the company had paid the anchorage charges to Karwar port and the port department has directed Karwar port officials to lend all assistance to the stranded vessel.

According to sources in Karwar port, crippled vessels arrive at the port now and then and only last January a Dubai based ship, MV Shaheen, had run aground at Kurmagadh near Karwar.