Firm struggles to refloat capsized floatel, as choppy Mumbai sea and rain hit ops

The base of the ship is touching the sea bed now, so Singapore firm has come up with a new plan to dock the ship.

Arc Deck Bar, the floatel on ship Avior that capsized near Mahim bay, is yet to be refloated two weeks after the incident as the rough sea has made it tough for divers to access it.

Arc Deck Bar, the floatel on ship Avior, capsized near Mahim bay on May 25.(PTI Photo)

Last Thursday, from Singapore-based SMIT Salvage, the firm hired to refloat the ship, had managed to locate the puncture at the base of the ship, and anticipated that they would be able to refloat the ship and bring it to the Bhaucha dhakka harbour in three days’ time.

However, divers have not been able to access the ship for the past week because of choppy weather, said Sanjay Sharma, chief port officer of the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). The team will now try a new method to refloat the ship, he added. “The base of the ship is touching the sea bed now, so divers cannot reach the puncture from outside the ship to repair it. They have submitted a fresh plan to dock the ship.”

SMIT Salvage plans to use large pumps, and drain out water that has entered the ship, Sharma explained. “The divers will then enter the ship and repair the puncture from inside, they will weld it shut. After that, they will take the ship to the harbour,” he said.

However, if it continues to rain, it is likely to affect operations. “If rains are accompanied by strong winds, the operation will take longer,” he said.