Smoke billows out of the naval dockyard following fire broke out in the naval warship INS Vindhyagiri after it collided with a merchant vessel in Mumbai, on Monday. Photo: PTI
The beleaguered warship INS Vindhyagiri was taken to the Naval Dockyard and evacuated on Sunday evening. The blaze that erupted on board was brought under control by firefighters of the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai Port Trust and Mumbai fire brigade by 3.45 pm on Monday. Fire brigade officials said naval personnel underestimated the fire and informed them too late.
Naval officials blamed the container vessel Nordlake's crew and said a third ship was also part of the confusion that led to the collision on Sunday afternoon. Vice-Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin, commander-in-chief, Western Naval Command, told TOI on Monday, "We have investigated and it is clear that the Nordlake's crew is to blame. Vindhyagiri was returning from the sea with another vessel, MV Sea Eagle, when Nordlake was leaving the harbour. There was immense confusion between the crew of the Nordlake and the Sea Eagle. Finally the crew of the Nordlake panicked and turned the ship, ramming it into the engine room and boiler of the Vindhyagiri, which was travelling at low speed. Her fuel tank also ruptured due to the impact.''
Bhasin said records of communication between the Nordlake and Sea Eagle show the confusion. "The two ships first wanted to pass to the left of each other. A few minutes later, they decided to pass to the right of each other. Again a decision was taken to pass to the left of each other. As they came closer, the Nordlake crew panicked and turned right. As a result, the ship rammed into the INS Vindhyagiri.''
Ribarczyk P, managing director of Reederei 'Nord' Klaus E Oldendorff, which owns the Nordlake, said from Hamburg, Germany, "We are not aware about a case being registered. However, we are going to conduct our own investigations. Our representative will be arriving in India as soon as he gets a visa. In the meantime, we have appointed a local representative to guide us in our investigations."
Bhasin said, "We were quite lucky that everyone safely returned to the harbour." A fire official said, "The engine room and boiler were hit. The boiler was hot and more fuel started oozing out. As a result, the fire became unmanageable after midnight on Sunday." The fire brigade was alerted at 4.30 am on Monday and it sent eight fire tenders and six tankers to the spot.
By morning, most of the frigate was burnt. There was ingress of water in many parts and she lost balance and landed on the seabed. However, the water was too shallow for her to completely sink. "We wanted the ship to settle in the dock as controlling the flames was impossible," said a fire official.
The ship was expected to rise again during high tide. Naval officials said it cost the Coast Guard Rs 162 crore to retrieve Vivek, which was rammed in the harbour and sank last year. In Vindhyagiri's case, salvaging the ship may cost over Rs 200 crore. Bhasin said Vindhyagiri was to be decommissioned next year. The navy's inquiry is expected to assess damages and recommend if the ship can be used again. Bhasin said the navy would do its best to retrieve the ship and claim damages.
The FIR, filed at the Yellow Gate police station, accuses the captain and crew of the Nordlake under IPC sections 280 (rash navigation), 337 (causing hurt) and 427 (mischief causing damage).
Capt Manohar Nambiar, chief PRO, defence, said, "The origin or cause of the fire is difficult to ascertain now, since the compartments are filled with smoke."
The Yellow Gate police have asked for the communication logs and videos of the incident. The logs between the Nordlake and Sea Eagle are being handed over to the Director-General of Shipping.