Chinese ship stranded off Bengal coast
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18/06/2008
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Indian Express (New Delhi)
A Chinese cargo ship carrying over 5000 metric tonnes (MT) of project cargo has been stranded 30 nautical miles off the Bengal coast since June 13. The Kolkata Port Trust has not been able to provide pilots to guide it into the Haldia port due to inclement weather. The consignment is meant for a 4x600 MW power plant and a half-million tonne aluminium smelter for projects coming up at Jharsuguda in Orissa. Sources told The Indian Express that due to choppy seas, some of the heavy deck cargo of the merchant vessel J King, from Shanghai, has broken its fastenings and has caused the ship to list dangerously by 10 degrees on the right. The ship's captain had written to the KoPT on June 17 seeking assistance. "Due to rough seas and high wind my ship cargo (has) shifted. Now (the) ship lists 10 degrees to starboard side. Please arrange pilot for berthing as soon as possible,' the letter said. J King, manned by a 19-member all-Chinese crew, had reached the sandhead anchorage near the Haldia port on June 13 at 6.45 am and was waiting to berth. However, due to a shortage of pilots