M/V Wisdom Runs Aground Near Mumbai

The M/V Wisdom ran aground near Juhu Beach in Mumbai, curiously close to the shore, attracting the attention of onlookers and spurring controversy over the possibility of pollution. 

The 26-year old container vessel was traveling from Colombo to the Alang scrapyard, and was believed to have experienced trouble while being towed by a tug, forcing the vessel to break free from its tugboat.  On Saturday the ship had been drifting dangerously close to the Bandra-Worli sea link before grounding in Juhu.

While there are concerns over environmental effects of the wreckage, sources from the Directorate General of Shipping stated that there is no immediate pollution threats since there is no fuel or cargo aboard.  S B Agnihotri, the director-general, says that he presumes the owners of the Wisdom will in 4 or 5 days take the ship to the Alang scrapyard in Surat.  He also stated that there are investigations to ascertain if the towing material was of inferior quality or if the capacity of the tug/towing material was inadequate. 

Sources from DGS assert that the removal of the vessel should not be too difficult since it was caught in sandy and not rocky areas.  In contrast, a coast guard officer was reported to say that moving a 9,000 tonne grounded heavy vessel that was grounded firmly and aided by speed, the possibility of sailing it back to sea is minimal.

If it is unable to be moved, the ship will have to be dismantled upon its grounding location.  The coast guard vessel, the Sankalp, will be assisting in the salvage of the Wisdom.