The immovable Chinese ship Hansita proves a nightmare

KOLLAM: The  Chinese ship Hansita that was beached off Kakkathoppu coast here  on June 25 remains  a nightmare to the coastal residents even as the time granted by the Kerala High Court to remove it has ended.  The  ship  was brought to Kollam port by the Indian company Megha Shipping on March 26, 2013. Technical issues had  made it anchor off shore near Kollam port for the last three years as the ship owners failed to pay the wharfage charges which had exceeded Rs 40 lakh.  

The state government will  move the court again seeking permission to take over the ship, but  the authorities are  clueless on how to remove the dredger from the shore. The government had earlier submitted a similar  petition,  but the court, on the basis of a counter petition, sanctioned 45 days’ time to  the ship operator  to remove it  from the spot. However, the owners have failed to tow the ship within the time limit. The technical support given by the Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd was also of no use in moving the ship.  

Meanwhile, the ship  has  caused the formation of  a new ridge causing huge waves to eat away the shore threatening many houses in the area. The residents of Kakkathoppu have staged several protests, including a hunger strike on the Thiruvonam day, demanding immediate removal of the ship. The protesters under the Kakkathoppu  Theeradesa Samrakshana Samiti  say that the local residents  have lost over ten houses due to the tidal attack.