Mumbai: Although a sizable number of life jackets were stored aboard the ill-fated Neel Kamal ferry on way to Elephanta Caves, none of the passengers —including crew members —strapped these on until it began to sink. This was due to inadequate safety enforcement and lack of vigilance on part of the ferry service operator and the authorities, said a senior port official.
Some officials involved in the rescue operation said had the JNPT pilot boat in the vicinity not come to the rescue with a stock of life jackets, it might have led to a bigger tragedy. “It is mandatory to store life jackets on boats, but no one wears them unless there is an emergency. This general lethargy can cost you your life,” said the port official. “Ideally, licensing authorities should punish operators who fail to offer life jackets to all their passengers,” said sources close to maritime authorities.
The video of the tragic mishap shows several passengers waiting for rescue on the ill-fated boat wearing the life jackets brought in by JNPT’s pilot boat. Despite being a low-capacity boat, the pilot boat rescued 56 passengers, said eyewitnesses.
The Neel Kamal ferry belonged to Mahesh Tours and Travels. The catamaran’s licence was renewed, and the boat, although old, was refurbished, said Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) officials.
There are 285 licenced ferry boats in the Mumbai region, of which nearly 200 ply daily on 31 different routes connecting mainly the Gateway of India, Ferry Wharf, Elephanta, Mandwa, JNPT, Versova and Madh Island. The majority of these rickety boats are decades old and have not been replaced despite govt proposing subsidies for replacement to owners.
MMB sources said 8 lakh passengers travel annually from the Gateway, besides around 20 lakh from other jetties across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. “Every 2-3 months, a survey of boats is undertaken to ensure they are safe enough to take to the high seas. However, if this is the condition of these rickety boats then there are several such accidents waiting to happen,” they said.
Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) and MMB are the traffic and safety managers respectively for boats licensed by them. “It is also the responsibility of maritime authorities to ensure boats and their crew follow all safety rules or penalise them on the spot,” said sources, adding few inspectors monitor the embarkation. MMB CEO Manik Gursal said regular surveys are undertaken by the administration, and accordingly all boats are in proper condition and follow safety rules.
