After More Than a Decade Shipwreck May be Removed from Goa Beach

Ship that ran aground ten years ago on Goa beach may finally be removed.

On Monday the Indian government announced they will consider Salgaokar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd for the removal of the M/V River Princes from the Goa coast. Indian Press agencies reported that Salgaokar Mining Industries offered to do the salvage and removal for free. The two companies who were seriously being considered for the job are now on the back burner and Salgaokar Mining Industries has first preference.

Salgaokar Mining Ind. was the original owner of the M/V River Princess when it ran aground in June, 2000 and is now offering free removal of the ship for full ownership of her. Under Indian Maritime law owners of shipwrecks can suspend salvage operations and abandon the vessel without invoking any penal actions. Indian Maritime law has provisions to remove only those shipwrecks blocking navigation channels. The Indian government took possession of the shipwreck after it was deemed abandoned.

The M/V River Princess has been sitting on the Candolim-Sinquerim coast of North Goa for more than 10 years, posing an environmental threat and speeding beach erosion in the area. The stranded vessel also poses a threat to beach goers as more and more pieces of the corroding wreck are washing ashore. Also, there has been some speculation over the last few years that the ship has become a storage center for the illegal smuggling of drugs into the country.

Indian officials are reconvening to make a final decision on the salvager. All three salvage companies which now include Titan Salvage, Madgaonkar Salvage and Salgaonkar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd will be included in the consideration, just in case Salgaonkar’s offer to do the work for free falls through.