Singapore firm hired to salvage sinking floatel, 15 crew safe

MUMBAI: The ArkDeck bar floating restaurant has hired a Singapore-based firm to salvage the ship that tilted after a breach in the vessel soon after it hit a rock on Friday.
A total of 15 crew members who were aboard the ship were able to reach to their safety on the shore on a rescue boat.

The floating restaurant had its last event on Thursday and the following day, on Friday, it was to set to sail for the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) harbour as operations are to remain shut during the monsoon months.

Around 2pm, the tumultuous undercurrent dislodged the anchor, causing the vessel to drift and collide with the bedrock, which led to the ominous damage. As a result, the vessel tilted and partly sank.

Kookie Singh, partner at Ardeck Bar, said, “We had initially thought of hiring the service of local divers but the sea is choppy. We have now decided to appoint Singapore-based Smit Salver, which has the best expertise to carry out such operations.”

Captain Sanjay Sharma, chief port officer, Maharashtra Martime Board, said, “The 465-tonne ship has tilted 25 degrees. However, the position of the ship since it tilted yesterday has not changed, though two high and low tides have passed. So, there is not much risk to the vessel.”

Sharma added, “It will take a maximum of three days to clear the ship as Smit Salver staff will first inspect the vessel thoroughly. The water, too, will have to be pumped out and the hole breached.”

The ship will be moved with the help of the tug as its engine may not be able to operate since it may have come into contact with water.

In a statement, Samyukkta Singh, owner, Ark Deck Bar, said, “From the onset, all our paperwork, licences and other formalities have been in perfect order in keeping with every government and local regulatory requirement, including our maintenance procedures. In order to perfectly follow the safety protocol, the floatel was scheduled to be moved away from its location to be docked at Mazgaon on May 26. Upon receiving the ominous weather and sea forecast, the vessel was being readied to set sail for the docks, in fact, a day prior to the original date.” The owner said the floatel was not functional nor open to any patrons when the incident occurred.

No member of the crew was injured and they were all ferried to safety way even before the first assistance from the coast guard team arrived. Singh said, “Detailed investigations regarding the exact extent of damage and vessel salvage are underway.” The Avior is a lease vessel which housed the ArkDeck bar.