All ferries have valid fitness certificates: Phal Desai | Goa News
Panaji: A day after a video of a broken-down ferry boat in the Cumbarjua canal was widely shared, river navigation minister Subhash Phal Desai blamed strong monsoon currents and cyclonic winds for the incident. He said that the ferry drifted after its engine overheated.“These days, the tides are high, currents are fast, and the monsoon winds are strong, so the ferry began to drift in the river because of the stormy waters. To prevent the ferry from drifting, extra pressure was put… it shut down. Within 10 minutes, it restarted,” said Phal Desai.Despite the ferry and an iron ore barge nearly colliding, Phal Desai downplayed the incident. “There was no danger. It could have been a tragedy because of the barge, but nothing happened. We will take the necessary precautions,” said the minister.He said that new ferries of the river navigation department have dual engines to ensure backup, refuting allegations by Congress that they lack certification from the Captain of Ports.“These ferries have fitness certificates. The Captain of Ports is the authority to certify the fitness of the ferries; they have experts. We have shown our fitness certificates and renewed them before they expire,” he said.He also said structural safety audits and engine tests are done when ferries complete 15 years.
