OPED By Commodore Ranjit Rai, Indian Navy (R)
At least 13 people lost their lives when an Indian Naval speedboat carrying out engine trials in the congested waters off Karanjia in Mumbai lost control and rammed into a tourist passenger ferry, Neel Kamal, carrying more than 100 passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island.
While 98 people, including two critically injured, were rescued, two passengers, a man and a child, were still reported missing a day after the tragic accident.
According to the Mumbai police, the deceased included seven men, four women, and two children. The dead also included a naval officer and two Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) representatives onboard the high-speed craft.
What Caused The Accident?
The ferry was on its regular passenger run from the imposing Gateway of India, next to the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, to Elephanta caves on Karanjia Island, Mumbai’s most popular tourist destination for Indian and foreign tourists, when the accident happened.
The Navy immediately launched search and Rescue (SAR) efforts in coordination with the Coast Guard and Marine Police. Four naval helicopters, 11 naval craft, one Coast Guard boat, and three Marine Police boats undertook the rescue efforts. Reportedly, around 90 survivors were picked up by the Navy, Coast Guard, and civil craft in the area and transferred to nearby jetties and hospitals.
An FIR under relevant sections of the new criminal code laws, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), has been registered at the Colaba police station in South Mumbai against the Navy speedboat’s coxswain (driver) and others responsible for the tragedy.
An inquiry, possibly a joint Navy and Mercantile Department inquiry, has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the incident.
In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Indian Navy confirmed that the speedboat went out of control due to a malfunction in the engine.
“Today afternoon, an Indian Navy craft lost control while undertaking engine trials in Mumbai Harbour due to engine malfunction. As a result, the boat collided with a passenger ferry, which subsequently capsized,” the Indian Navy spokesperson said.
Indian media reports quoted a Navy official as saying that whenever a key component like an engine is installed on a craft, they conduct thorough tests with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure no issues arise, such as verifying the manufacturer’s claim of a 140 kmph speed by testing it with the manufacturer on board.
During such trials, it is common for OEMs to show their customers the limits of the specified speed and maneuverability of the craft. Possibly, this was happening in this case as well when the speedboat lost control and collided with the ferry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh ($2500) for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 ($600) for the injured.
Narrow Sea Lanes, Unregulated Sea Traffic Another Cause Of The Accident?
Elephanta Island has historical and cultural attractions for visitors, with religious Hindu sculptures, caves, and a toy train. Tourist guides show visitors desecrated stone sculptures fired upon by Portuguese soldiers for shooting practice. In 1662, Mumbai’s seven islands were handed over by Portugal to King Charles II of England as part of Catherine of Braganza’s dowry when the two were married.
Ferry boat accidents in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines have been a recurring concern, often resulting in significant loss of life. These incidents are frequently attributed to overcrowding, inadequate maintenance, lack of safety equipment, non-compliance with safety regulations, and inadequate navigational experience handling the boats.
Tourist boats carry safety rafts for rescue, and carriage of life jackets is mandatory in most cases, but life jackets’ quality can vary.
Small boat accidents in India have been a recurring concern, often resulting in significant loss of life. These incidents are frequently attributed to overcrowding, inadequate maintenance, lack of safety equipment, and non-compliance with safety regulations and provisions of life jackets.
Last year, on May 7, in Tanur, Malappuram, Kerala, a recreational boat named Atlantic capsized, leading to the deaths of 22 people, including 11 children. The boat was reportedly overcrowded and lacked proper safety measures like life jackets.
Addressing these concerns through comprehensive policy implementation and public awareness is crucial to prevent such tragedies and ensure the safety of passengers utilizing India’s water or seaways. Boats are also operated with a valid fitness certificate, and in Mumbai, many fishing vessels have been converted into tourist vessels.
Mumbai is the financial capital of India. Mumbai’s urban population is estimated to be over 22 million, and the densely populated city is the largest in India in terms of population, trade activity, and business. The metropolitan area in India has experienced an explosion in growth and per capita income over the past 20 years, a common occurrence in urban areas in India.
A visit to the outlying islands of Mumbai, like Alibagh and Khanderi, by boat is common for recreation and work, as the road route is time-consuming despite the Atal Setu. The Atal Setu is a 21.8 km long 6-lane bridge over the sea and land, connecting Sewri and Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12 this year and named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is the longest sea bridge in India.
Therefore, boats, ferries, and hovercraft ply the narrow channel of Mumbai, which is also used by the large merchant ships to proceed to the Ballard Pier, Nhava Seva, and naval warships and submarines to the Naval Dockyard. The cross traffic in the channel is immense, and the passage to Elephanta cuts right across the main channel.
Many close-quarter situations have been reported, and two groups control the tourist boats from the Gateway of India. Seeing these varied tourist boats tied to each other at the Gateway is a sight as boat owners beckon customers to fill their boats by turns.
Next to the Taj Mahal Hotel is the Royal Bombay Yacht Club (RBYC), which has leisure sailing and propelled boats that use the same waters even for sailing races. Luckily, large ships have vessel traffic control by the Bombay Port Trust, and professional pilots are very strict after the lessons learned following the inquiry, when a container ship M V Nordlake going out of harbor collided with INS Vindhyagiri near Sunk-Rock lighthouse at the entrance of Mumbai harbor on January 30, 2011.
INS Vindhyagiri was returning to the harbor with Western Fleet ships in formation after celebrating Families Day at sea. Vindhyagiri suffered damage and caught fire but limped to the Naval Dockyard, disembarked all personnel, including children, and capsized and sank with an overdose of water pumped in to fight the fire.
Luck on board ships, as in life, is an indelible factor. However, addressing safety concerns in developing countries usually is a compromise between the costs, social needs, and what is affordable. Comprehensive policy implementation and public awareness are crucial to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of passengers utilizing India’s waterways.
- Cmde Ranjit Rai is a Naval author and commentator who curates a Maritime Museum in New Delhi.
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- Email EurAsian Times at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
