New Delhi: The government on Thursday said there
was no security lapse regarding a merchant vessel being
grounded at Mumbai coast and it was awaiting the report of the
navy chief who was conducting a probe as to how the ship
entered into Indian waters undetected.
"There was no security lapse. There was a report that it
was an abandon ship and I am willing to reserve my comment
till I receive the inquiry report...the first report is
expected in a day or two," Home Minister P Chidambaram told
reporters here.
He said coastal security was under the command of the
Coast Guard and the Chief of Naval Staff has ordered an
inquiry into the incident of merchant vessel MV Pavit which
ran aground at Mumbai coast on Sunday.
He was responding to a question whether security agencies
failed to respond timely to the messages that the Panama
registered vessel was started to drift towards Mumbai coast.
"Apparently there was a report that a ship had sunk and
this ship was adrift," Chidambaram said.
The Panama-flag vessel started to drift towards Mumbai
coast after its engines failed a month ago near the coast of
Oman, leading to flooding of its engine room.
The crew-member of the 70-m-long merchant vessel was
rescued following a distress call near Oman.
Taking serious note of the incident, Defence Minister AK
Antony had already asked navy and Indian Coast Guard to submit
a report as to how the abandoned ship entered Indian waters
undetected.
PTI
