Ark Deck Bar salvage operations stalled

Mumbai: The salvage operation for the Ark Deck Bar floatel, which sank on Friday, was stalled on Monday due to choppy weather conditions over the sea.

Rescue operations had been stalled on Sunday due to the same reason. The Singapore-based salvage company, Smit Salver, is holding a meeting with Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) to figure out the assets needed for the operation and the procedure to carry the operation.

The firm was hired to salvage the floatel and around `1 crore is estimated to be the cost of the salvaging operation. “Since the last two days, the weather over the sea has been rough due to which the divers have not been able to enter the waters. They have carried out a recce of the site,” said Kookie Singh, partner of Ark Deck Bar. The firm has suggested the re-floating of the vessel by plugging the leak or by inserting huge air balloons below it rise it back onto the sea’s surface.

“The MMB is pushing the owners of the floatel to salvage it sooner. The salvage firm is in the process of identifying the assets needed for the operation, essentially the ocean tugs and barges required for carrying out operation in this kind of weather,” said captain Sanjay Sharma, chief port officer, MMB.