I have got opportunity to see several world class ports like Hong Kong , Singapore , Rio-de Janeiro, Yokohama, Nagoya to name a few, while sailing with my husband. Those ports are not only advanced in infrastructure, they are very well managed and well equipped to meet the fastest growing modern shipping market. In India, except JNPT at Mumbai, I found none of the ports are comparable to those high tech ports. It’s been an irony that having such a vast coastline of about 7516.6km, we are so much trailing behind. Even a tiny country like Singapore which does not have even an open sea has transformed itself into busiest seaports and is regarded by business travelers around the world as the “Best Business Destination”. It has developed itself as one of the powerful financial and industrial sectors by making business friendly laws for easy cargo transition and works as a huge cargo depot for its speedy clearance method. But it was really upsetting when I visited “Paradip port”, the only port belong to my own state, Orissa. Even though, having a long coast line and gifted with number of finest seafarers and Master Mariners adorning several prestigious positions, Paradip is so ignored.
Paradip port in Latitude 20º 15.94’N and Longitude 086º 40.85’E,is situated 210 nautical miles south of Calcutta and 260 nautical miles North of Visakhapatanam is one of the 12 major ports of India, established in 1965. Even though it is enlisted as a major port, compare to other ports in India its development is very slow and to become a world class port it may take several years from today. In spite of declaration by the Govt. of Orissa to develop it as a Special economic zone and the proposed plan to set up an industrial park here the port has not marked any development so far.
Paradip has been complied with few facilities- for transportation of bulk cargo like iron ore and coal from Kendujhar belt of Orissa ,the Port is well connected with Broad Gauge Railway System of the South Eastern Railway. The Port is served by National highway No. 5-A. Paradip port has a mechanized loading plant at iron ore berth to load coal and iron with a admissible berth range from 11.0 to 13.0 mtrs and can accommodate maximum size of vessels of 50,000 to 70,000 DWT. This is the only welcome step that is available in Paradeep port. The fertilizer berth is designed as the captive berth for M/s. Paradip Phosphates Ltd., to handle bulk and liquid cargo by fully mechanised means. The stack yard close to cargo berth can accommodate Containers. The containers are to be discharged by the ship's own cranes/derricks or by the wharf cranes on the berths. There are four wharf cranes of a capacity of 13.2 Mt each. The Port Authorities plan to encourage handling of containers to cater to the needs of containers to the needs of exporters/importers located in the Port's hinterland. The container handling facilities at the Port are proposed to be privatised. The berth for handling container vessel and necessary space for container handling yard and CFS will be provided by the Port. At present 2,20,300 sq. m. of open stacking area is available inside the port for storage of more than 13 lakh tons of different cargo. These stack yards are connected with Rail and Road. Additional stack yards of over 1, 00,000 sq. m. are soon to be commissioned. The Port has its own Railway system. The route length is 6.8 Km. and track length is 36 km. At present, there are 7 nos. of Locomotives. Adequate supply of water to ships is available. Limited bunkering facilities are available from Indian Oil Corporation. The Port has a slip way along with workshop for repair and maintenance of Port Crafts and barges. There is a well equipped Central Workshop for repair and maintained of Port equipment. This workshop can undertake repair jobs for ships, in case of need. Below is the data comprising the cargo handling capacity of the port
Available through the agent
Average loading/ discharging rates Tons/Day
Chrome Ore
3000
Coal
5000
Iron & Steel
3000
Food Grains
1000
Fertilizers
1000
Other General Cargo
800
The port handles around 9 million tones of thermal coal-coastal exports to Tuticorin, Chennai, Ennore for the coal fired power plants of Tamilnadu State Electricity Board . The coal is mined primarily in Talcher and IB river mines in Orissa.
The strategic position of Paradeep port has got ample scope to develop it as a world class port like that of Singapore , Hongkong , Dampier in Australia, Saldanha Bay in South Africa or as Tuborou of Brazil. Instead of using the western Indian ports it can be used as a gate way to exporting inland cargos to South East Asia, Japan and Australia.
Right now, the Port has an artificial lagoon type harbour protected by two rubble mound "Break waters" and approached by the dredged channel. The North break-water is 538 meters long on the North Eastern side of the Port and the south break-water is 1217 meters long on the South Eastern side. There are total 13 berths and entrance channel is about 2.0km and minimum depth is about 12.8m and width of the channel being 160m.The geography of Paradip port is very convenient to develop new jetties and the Bay of Bengal has enormous areas to create anchorage area for ships waiting in the outer harbour and also ship to ship operation (STS) operation of tanker to lighter cargo as done in Singapore straits, Hongkong, Muscat and also in Kakinada for different types of ships.
Like Paradeep Phosphates Ltd, other companies like NYK, Mitsui O.S.K Lines , Mobil, Shell etc. can be tendered to construct their own Jetties like they have done it in Singapore where they have their own jetties and own area of operation and were given every freedom to handle in the port premises itself .
A container berth has not yet been developed properly. In Yokohama, in Singapore and Honkokong the use of big Gantries speeds up the container handling very fast , whereas Paradip port is still remains in the stone’s age. So far no action has been taken. It can be speeded up by advertising and policy changes by the Administration to attract foreign investors.
In this area the port should have facility for bunkering. If it is not possible bunkering barges can be introduced to make it available when the ship is in anchorage.
Pilotage is compulsory here. But no night navigation facilities are available so far. But this can be introduced to make port operational 24hrs like that of any advanced port like Singapore and Hongkong.
The port suffers from very poor rail connectivity. The rail connecting the port to South Eastern Railways is single line, which leads to substantial delay and hampers fast movement of goods. This is further compounded by the nature of the –black cotton soil, over which the line has been built. It leads to need for constant repair of the line, further slowing down traffic many times in a year. South Eastern Railways has already initiated a doubling the line from Cuttack, the business hub of Orissa, to Paradip,a distance of around 100km.Also being implemented is the doubling of Talcher to Cuttack at a cost of 90crores,which could substantially increase thermal coal exports to south India.
Iron Ore exports from the port is also affected because the mines are located at a rail distance of nearly 650kms.- a factor that significantly reduces the competitiveness of iron ore exports from Paradeep. A new rail line project expected to nearly halve the distance, has been significantly delayed as expected. It is very essential these infrastructure developments are taken in war footing so that Paradeep doesn’t loose out revenue with respect to competitiveness.
The mineral rich Orissa State has got enormous amount of iron ore bauxite, coal manganese, and chrome ore charge chrome hard coke, limestone, Ferro manganese etc. Apart from minerals, Orissa produces food grain in abundance. Keeping an eye to it, this port can be developed as a world class bulk cargo port with latest machinery for loading up of the verity of cargo.
The Port imports around 2 million tonnes of petroleum products on behalf of HPCL for distribution in the hinterland. The products are imported at Visakhapatnam and then transshipped to Paradip. Previously, IOC was planning a 9-12 million tones refinery at Paradip. The project also envisaged a captive jetty in Paradip for import of crude as well as petroleum products. Given the current glut in refining capacity in the country, the project has been put on hold. We are quite optimistic about renewal of the project in future given the substantial investment already made. However, it is difficult to predict a future date, and would depend largely on oil sector dynamics. Orissa Government Administration was very keen on this project and was ready to give all sorts of logistic supports to oil companies. Even the present chief minister Mr.Naveen Pattanaik is very keen for the construction of the oil Jetty in Paradeep.
Compare to other ports of India the land cost is very less in Orissa and for ware houses building , creating container depot, car carrier private berths within the port areas will be very cheap. The cheap labour is another plus point in this place. So stevedoring can be done in much less price. Only thing is to provide technical know how to these labourers to handle the cargo.
In the wake of the rapid globalization and opening of the economy by the Indian Government in recent years, the ports should have opened up to attract foreign investments to develop new jetties and infrastructures to make the port same standard as that of in Singapore and Hong Kong. This port has all the prospects to be developed as a big bulk cargo handling port and so also oil and LPG handling port. Even if the growth for the year 2001-02 was 6.18% and port handled about 44 million tones that year, there is a lot of room for improvement to make this major port, a World class port. Presently it’s regarded as a Bulk cargo port only port handles about 80% of bulk cargo, 9% liquid bulk, and others as 11%..
Orissa is a land of vast cultural heritage with historical monuments, vast mangroves and rain forests, wild life, beautiful sandy sea shores to beautiful national parks of Similipal. This state has to offer vast array of subjects of tourist interest to attract foreign tourists .Looking at the growing popularity of cruise liners few ferry Jetties can be developed to attract the cruise liners to make it a hub in orissa like they are projecting Pattaya, Singapore, Bangkok etc..
Orissa has got his own glorious maritime history and has its name among the front runners in maritime trade in ancient times as it had its trade relations with countries like Java, Sumatra and Borneo. Till today every Oriya celebrates the “Boita Bandana” Festival i.e.,the bidding farewell to the Oriya sailors or the “sadhavas” with their “boitas” means the small wooden ships for sailing on the auspicious morning of Kartik Purnima. If ancient Orissa has such a rich maritime history then why can’t it be successful in the modern world in the present day context? A little paradigm shift in thinking, impetus and a small policy decision can make many Oriya sailors’ dream, like that of us, come true.
. The development of Paradip port will not only open up new job prospective but also it will open up the available resources like its art and crafts, precious and semiprecious stones, stone carvings and also will be instrumental in promoting travel and tourism. At one time our very famous Chief Minister of Orissa late Mr. Biju Pattanaik who tried his best to make this Port ,a World Class Modern Port, which was one of his dreams of that time. What we need is a political will by the Central Govt and of course Ministry of Shipping whose jurisdiction the Port is under. We still hope that Ministry of Shipping can take some measures which can make Paradip, a world class port.
(2045 words)
******The End*******
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
God or man !
God or man!
I was sweating profusely in that dimly lit underground temple. The Brahmin was chanting the mantras as if a dancing, giggling, foaming mountain stream jumping from stone to stone and falling loose showering millions of water drop…..The Brahmin put the bel patta, milk, misri then banana on the siva linga and again chant the mantras. One after the other, all the Brahmins came to pay their first prayer to Lord Siva in that early morning, as if coming to sign the register book showing their presence.
I thought this is their duty…their bread and butter……but are they happy? Living the entire life in two pieces of saffron or white cloth, acting like the mouth piece for the god and pretending as if taking all our prayers straight to the god and accepting the gold and silver nagas (cobras), the gifts the devoting offering to the god and taking all their sins on their shoulders…Is it that easy? I was confused. It was damn hot outside…may be 42-43 degrees…the earth was almost boiling and in that dingy temple ,the incense sticks and the dhup sticks along with the burning lamps creating a smoky atmosphere suffocating the mass to the hell. I thought about Lord Siva….How on earth he can stay in this atmosphere through out the day from time immemorial but never complained any of his devotees that he too is getting suffocated with this!
“Maharudra….he! mruntyunjaya” shouted another person almost throwing a pitcher full of water on the Siva linga. I got the shivering with that sudden sound and the way he called the god………tear drops rushed out of my eyes mingling with the sweat, choking my throat. I was not with my self. What for I was crying I didn’t have any clue but I couldn’t have any control over my tears. The Brahmin asked me about my wish before god and the reason for this Jalasajya…..I thought but couldn’t answer….I said, “Tell for our well being and success….keep us in good health and in company of good people….then suddenly I got confused…..Why we need to utter this before god, why god can’t see what we want actually! I got startled when the Brahmin asked in a high tone, “Anything else you want to convey to god.” I looked at him in awe and said, “No.” I thought , ‘ How can I convey to god the amount of mental strain I am taking for nothing’ ‘How can I convey god the amount of effort I am putting to put every to put it into right track only to found every thing going off track!’ ‘How can I convey to the god the amount of accusation I am taking without even a single fault of mine!’ ‘How can I convey him that in spite of having every thing, why I am feeling so lonely, so drained at times…….’
Another Brahmin escorted one more couple to that place and they sat side wise quite close to us. The wife was looking quite depressed and the husband somehow looking quite tired. They were accompanied with a basketful of belpatta. With every mantra and a pitcher full of water they were said to put one Belpatta on top of the Siva Linga. I could make out that husband was not well for which they had come to the god as last resort. Suddenly my heart got filled with some unknown sorrow. I thought, they are staying in their own land, own people, still what an irony the destiny is playing with them! I concentrated on the Siva Linga and tried to tie up my distracted mind a bit…….
The “Jala sajya” was completed and we came out of the temple. The temple was already filled with the hustle and bustle of the devotees.
The fresh gush of clean air, I inhale in and looked back into that dingy temple.
I thought, ‘this Sivalinga was supposed to be in the open air. Somebody must have thought to make this a temple. And with this temple the god got famous and day by day got rich too. But what he got at last suffocated days, grumbling people ,selfish interests and accusing souls always roaming around him………And people are so greedy that they can’t even see how suffocating it is to remain like god forever inside that smoke filled dingy room…..
‘oh! Thank god you made me a human being and thank god! You gave me every thing for which I can escape and breathe some fresh air, whenever I am in utmost need…...’
While coming back, my mischievous mind plotted some plots and started working upon too……..I thought, “ if in point of time god suddenly got converted into a tiger and howl and maul a few devotees who are bothering him so much day in day out and the priests there , will these people again go to suffocate him in that dingy room !….
‘No….They will leave that place deserted……
I thought, ‘May be I am trying to act like god for which people are howling at me………..what about if I try someday to bite one or two just to see if they coming back again to suffocate me!
I was sweating profusely in that dimly lit underground temple. The Brahmin was chanting the mantras as if a dancing, giggling, foaming mountain stream jumping from stone to stone and falling loose showering millions of water drop…..The Brahmin put the bel patta, milk, misri then banana on the siva linga and again chant the mantras. One after the other, all the Brahmins came to pay their first prayer to Lord Siva in that early morning, as if coming to sign the register book showing their presence.
I thought this is their duty…their bread and butter……but are they happy? Living the entire life in two pieces of saffron or white cloth, acting like the mouth piece for the god and pretending as if taking all our prayers straight to the god and accepting the gold and silver nagas (cobras), the gifts the devoting offering to the god and taking all their sins on their shoulders…Is it that easy? I was confused. It was damn hot outside…may be 42-43 degrees…the earth was almost boiling and in that dingy temple ,the incense sticks and the dhup sticks along with the burning lamps creating a smoky atmosphere suffocating the mass to the hell. I thought about Lord Siva….How on earth he can stay in this atmosphere through out the day from time immemorial but never complained any of his devotees that he too is getting suffocated with this!
“Maharudra….he! mruntyunjaya” shouted another person almost throwing a pitcher full of water on the Siva linga. I got the shivering with that sudden sound and the way he called the god………tear drops rushed out of my eyes mingling with the sweat, choking my throat. I was not with my self. What for I was crying I didn’t have any clue but I couldn’t have any control over my tears. The Brahmin asked me about my wish before god and the reason for this Jalasajya…..I thought but couldn’t answer….I said, “Tell for our well being and success….keep us in good health and in company of good people….then suddenly I got confused…..Why we need to utter this before god, why god can’t see what we want actually! I got startled when the Brahmin asked in a high tone, “Anything else you want to convey to god.” I looked at him in awe and said, “No.” I thought , ‘ How can I convey to god the amount of mental strain I am taking for nothing’ ‘How can I convey god the amount of effort I am putting to put every to put it into right track only to found every thing going off track!’ ‘How can I convey to the god the amount of accusation I am taking without even a single fault of mine!’ ‘How can I convey him that in spite of having every thing, why I am feeling so lonely, so drained at times…….’
Another Brahmin escorted one more couple to that place and they sat side wise quite close to us. The wife was looking quite depressed and the husband somehow looking quite tired. They were accompanied with a basketful of belpatta. With every mantra and a pitcher full of water they were said to put one Belpatta on top of the Siva Linga. I could make out that husband was not well for which they had come to the god as last resort. Suddenly my heart got filled with some unknown sorrow. I thought, they are staying in their own land, own people, still what an irony the destiny is playing with them! I concentrated on the Siva Linga and tried to tie up my distracted mind a bit…….
The “Jala sajya” was completed and we came out of the temple. The temple was already filled with the hustle and bustle of the devotees.
The fresh gush of clean air, I inhale in and looked back into that dingy temple.
I thought, ‘this Sivalinga was supposed to be in the open air. Somebody must have thought to make this a temple. And with this temple the god got famous and day by day got rich too. But what he got at last suffocated days, grumbling people ,selfish interests and accusing souls always roaming around him………And people are so greedy that they can’t even see how suffocating it is to remain like god forever inside that smoke filled dingy room…..
‘oh! Thank god you made me a human being and thank god! You gave me every thing for which I can escape and breathe some fresh air, whenever I am in utmost need…...’
While coming back, my mischievous mind plotted some plots and started working upon too……..I thought, “ if in point of time god suddenly got converted into a tiger and howl and maul a few devotees who are bothering him so much day in day out and the priests there , will these people again go to suffocate him in that dingy room !….
‘No….They will leave that place deserted……
I thought, ‘May be I am trying to act like god for which people are howling at me………..what about if I try someday to bite one or two just to see if they coming back again to suffocate me!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Python on vacation....
Python on vacation....
“Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”, I just stumbled upon this movie while scrolling randomly the T.V channels. I can’t understand the sentiment of the western world and their motive behind making such deadly movies. The Jaws, Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Mummy returns....to name a few and now this Anaconda!
A scientific expedition sets out for Borneo to seek a flower called the Blood Orchid, which could grant longer life and keep one young for longer time. A small filthy boat stuffed with two ladies and four young men scientists’ crew along with a very talented boatman who can take them in those forests where the blood orchids are blooming aplenty. The junior scientist who discovered this medicinal property was not only loved but quite exploited by her boss cum scientist in this project. On their way to this Jungle, the boat met with an accident during heavy floods in the river and turned into pieces. Thus started their trouble.........! To reach there they had to venture into the deep forests and there they hunted by this deadly and very poisonous snake called “anaconda”, a huge snake of about 100 meter long with a very wide jaw line..... Looking at the ferocity of this reptile they all decided to return back. But the boss was so obsessed with money and fame that he even put the entire crew‘s life at stake to get those flowers. The slithering snake running through out the forest is so well conceived that you just feel the shudder within and feel the snake in your vicinity. I was watching this in the night time and believe me I felt the ghost of this reptile every where giving me goose bumps time to time....
While watching this movie one real life incident flashed before me.
A year back, one of my husband’s colleagues,’ Capt. Shirsath was sailing in a SCI tanker, which was on a coastal run. From Mangalore port they loaded oil and left for Mumbai Butcher Island. As usual the ship got unberthed. The ropes were secured in the forward store, for peak store. The ship was pulled out with the help of tugs. The pilot was on board. The ship cleared the channel and pilot was dropped. The sun was just set in but still visibility is there. In this twilight, Capt. Shirsath caught in his own thought proceeded towards the main deck of the ship to check every thing one more time for the audit to be carried in Mumbai. He was just a couple of feet away from the accommodation, where he saw the ropes were staked there below the pipelines. He got irritated and on his walky talky he thwarted his anger on the boson for his negligence. But the boson, on the other hand has got no clue about which rope the captain is talking about.......
“Sir, I had secured every thing in place how come the rope be left behind...Let me see.”
Captain’s order how come the bosun could deny. Before the boson could go close to the rope he could see something moving. Looking at it both Capt. Shirsath and bosun ran .........puffed breath, putting their heart in their mouth, terribly shaken, frightened and profusely sweating.......entered and closed the door, water tight doors and ran inside the accommodation.
While running Capt. Shirsath told, “Seems it’s a python on the main deck. My god! Such a huge one! ”
Both ran to the bridge and announced in the public announcing system, regarding the presence of a python! Immediately the emergency was sounded...Every door windows of the accommodation wings were closed . They checked and closed every nook and corner of the ship from where the python could enter inside. But the python had got different plans. The Python followed the Captain and reached the Accommodation deck. It started showing up in the galley window and smoke room window..... Displaying its flickering split tongue it roamed around the ship randomly.......
In a tanker, there are still few areas which are quite open type, like the funnel of the ship, the AC ducts to draw fresh air, Engine room pipes to take the sounding, oil spillage pipes. In ship the AC ducts are really huge ones unlike that of Air crafts. The opening end of the AC somehow resembles that of a small Picher, just like the replica of the same in aircrafts. But in air craft you can’t even enter your little finger but here a small baby can easily stuffed inside it....Now this slithering snake has got abundance of chances to enter into the AC duct and show its face at any moment.....It was nightmarish....Nobody could sleep at night thinking this unwanted guest may show up any moment at anybody’s cabin.....They can’t keep the door ajar, thinking it may enter through the door itself.
The bridge was in more pathetic state... Navigation is done from the bridge with a look out..... Now he was so scared he just shut the door and navigated strictly relying on the ARPA, compass and GPS. Since it is a costal voyage, the presence of fishing boats couldn’t be ruled out.......
Capt. Shirsath sent an S.O.S massage to SCI and later Mumbai port control to allow them to berth so that the snake can be taken out of the ship..... But ...thanks to Menaka Gandhi and cruelty to animal jagran..... SCI arranged forest department to board the vessel arrival Mumbai butcher island.SCI advised Capt. Shirsath to stay calm and look after the python properly. Somehow the Python falls in an endangered species category and forest department was too delighted to listen that one of them is sailing in a ship.......They sent one cheerful message that, “Captain, we are glad to know that your ship is carrying this endangered species...please take care of the python...feed it with mutton, chicken and its favorites.....don’t try to harm it as you may face criminal charges...lol....They sent him a big mail containing, the behavior, feeding habit, the likes and dislikes.
Capt. Shirsath was all baffled, bewildered and couldn’t understand to how to tackle the situation..... In the mean time the pilot boat arrived to board the vessel and boarded the vessel safely to take the ship along side Butcher island.
They co-existed in ship side by side....taking care of each other including the python...feeding him time to time and treating him as a guest...... The companies, the charters, the families, the media all sent them with messages wishing safe journey and advices, suggestions kept flowing in.....but no body could help them out to get rid of that beast......
As the reached Mumbai for berthing, The Mumbai pilot was scared to board the vessel and told Capt. Shirsath to take care of their pilot and ensure that he should send back to the pilot station in full one piece.
“Dear capt. we found that your ship is having Python in it.....Looking at the safety aspect of my Pilot I would like to caution you that we had sent our pilot as one piece and we want him back in one piece too....”
After berthing in Mumbai port the forest department sent the good news that they had arranged one fellow who can catch the snake alive. The snake catcher finally arrived on board. He instructed captain to arrange four five strong people to help him out. The crews get ready on the deck and he made a small demo before them, on “what to do” and “how to do” while catching the snake .As a little mistake could prove fatal for him.....
The snake catcher went ahead and caught the snake’s hood in its strong grip. As he caught it the snake started rolling around him like a coil engulfing totally into its grip. But as instructed these five six strong crews caught hold of its tale and started uncoiling it......After about a half an hour struggle the snake was caught and put inside a box and transported back to Mangalore .......
P.s....Based on real life incident....
Question : How did the python board the tanker in Mangalore ?
Can you guess!
“Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”, I just stumbled upon this movie while scrolling randomly the T.V channels. I can’t understand the sentiment of the western world and their motive behind making such deadly movies. The Jaws, Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Mummy returns....to name a few and now this Anaconda!
A scientific expedition sets out for Borneo to seek a flower called the Blood Orchid, which could grant longer life and keep one young for longer time. A small filthy boat stuffed with two ladies and four young men scientists’ crew along with a very talented boatman who can take them in those forests where the blood orchids are blooming aplenty. The junior scientist who discovered this medicinal property was not only loved but quite exploited by her boss cum scientist in this project. On their way to this Jungle, the boat met with an accident during heavy floods in the river and turned into pieces. Thus started their trouble.........! To reach there they had to venture into the deep forests and there they hunted by this deadly and very poisonous snake called “anaconda”, a huge snake of about 100 meter long with a very wide jaw line..... Looking at the ferocity of this reptile they all decided to return back. But the boss was so obsessed with money and fame that he even put the entire crew‘s life at stake to get those flowers. The slithering snake running through out the forest is so well conceived that you just feel the shudder within and feel the snake in your vicinity. I was watching this in the night time and believe me I felt the ghost of this reptile every where giving me goose bumps time to time....
While watching this movie one real life incident flashed before me.
A year back, one of my husband’s colleagues,’ Capt. Shirsath was sailing in a SCI tanker, which was on a coastal run. From Mangalore port they loaded oil and left for Mumbai Butcher Island. As usual the ship got unberthed. The ropes were secured in the forward store, for peak store. The ship was pulled out with the help of tugs. The pilot was on board. The ship cleared the channel and pilot was dropped. The sun was just set in but still visibility is there. In this twilight, Capt. Shirsath caught in his own thought proceeded towards the main deck of the ship to check every thing one more time for the audit to be carried in Mumbai. He was just a couple of feet away from the accommodation, where he saw the ropes were staked there below the pipelines. He got irritated and on his walky talky he thwarted his anger on the boson for his negligence. But the boson, on the other hand has got no clue about which rope the captain is talking about.......
“Sir, I had secured every thing in place how come the rope be left behind...Let me see.”
Captain’s order how come the bosun could deny. Before the boson could go close to the rope he could see something moving. Looking at it both Capt. Shirsath and bosun ran .........puffed breath, putting their heart in their mouth, terribly shaken, frightened and profusely sweating.......entered and closed the door, water tight doors and ran inside the accommodation.
While running Capt. Shirsath told, “Seems it’s a python on the main deck. My god! Such a huge one! ”
Both ran to the bridge and announced in the public announcing system, regarding the presence of a python! Immediately the emergency was sounded...Every door windows of the accommodation wings were closed . They checked and closed every nook and corner of the ship from where the python could enter inside. But the python had got different plans. The Python followed the Captain and reached the Accommodation deck. It started showing up in the galley window and smoke room window..... Displaying its flickering split tongue it roamed around the ship randomly.......
In a tanker, there are still few areas which are quite open type, like the funnel of the ship, the AC ducts to draw fresh air, Engine room pipes to take the sounding, oil spillage pipes. In ship the AC ducts are really huge ones unlike that of Air crafts. The opening end of the AC somehow resembles that of a small Picher, just like the replica of the same in aircrafts. But in air craft you can’t even enter your little finger but here a small baby can easily stuffed inside it....Now this slithering snake has got abundance of chances to enter into the AC duct and show its face at any moment.....It was nightmarish....Nobody could sleep at night thinking this unwanted guest may show up any moment at anybody’s cabin.....They can’t keep the door ajar, thinking it may enter through the door itself.
The bridge was in more pathetic state... Navigation is done from the bridge with a look out..... Now he was so scared he just shut the door and navigated strictly relying on the ARPA, compass and GPS. Since it is a costal voyage, the presence of fishing boats couldn’t be ruled out.......
Capt. Shirsath sent an S.O.S massage to SCI and later Mumbai port control to allow them to berth so that the snake can be taken out of the ship..... But ...thanks to Menaka Gandhi and cruelty to animal jagran..... SCI arranged forest department to board the vessel arrival Mumbai butcher island.SCI advised Capt. Shirsath to stay calm and look after the python properly. Somehow the Python falls in an endangered species category and forest department was too delighted to listen that one of them is sailing in a ship.......They sent one cheerful message that, “Captain, we are glad to know that your ship is carrying this endangered species...please take care of the python...feed it with mutton, chicken and its favorites.....don’t try to harm it as you may face criminal charges...lol....They sent him a big mail containing, the behavior, feeding habit, the likes and dislikes.
Capt. Shirsath was all baffled, bewildered and couldn’t understand to how to tackle the situation..... In the mean time the pilot boat arrived to board the vessel and boarded the vessel safely to take the ship along side Butcher island.
They co-existed in ship side by side....taking care of each other including the python...feeding him time to time and treating him as a guest...... The companies, the charters, the families, the media all sent them with messages wishing safe journey and advices, suggestions kept flowing in.....but no body could help them out to get rid of that beast......
As the reached Mumbai for berthing, The Mumbai pilot was scared to board the vessel and told Capt. Shirsath to take care of their pilot and ensure that he should send back to the pilot station in full one piece.
“Dear capt. we found that your ship is having Python in it.....Looking at the safety aspect of my Pilot I would like to caution you that we had sent our pilot as one piece and we want him back in one piece too....”
After berthing in Mumbai port the forest department sent the good news that they had arranged one fellow who can catch the snake alive. The snake catcher finally arrived on board. He instructed captain to arrange four five strong people to help him out. The crews get ready on the deck and he made a small demo before them, on “what to do” and “how to do” while catching the snake .As a little mistake could prove fatal for him.....
The snake catcher went ahead and caught the snake’s hood in its strong grip. As he caught it the snake started rolling around him like a coil engulfing totally into its grip. But as instructed these five six strong crews caught hold of its tale and started uncoiling it......After about a half an hour struggle the snake was caught and put inside a box and transported back to Mangalore .......
P.s....Based on real life incident....
Question : How did the python board the tanker in Mangalore ?
Can you guess!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The nearest book happened to be Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Here goes,
“Never love a wild thing Mr. Bell,” Holly advised him. “That was Doc’s mistake. He was always lugging home wild things. A hawk with a hurt wing. One time it was a full-grown bobcat with a broken leg. But you can’t give your heart to a wild thing: the more you do, the stronger they get. Until they’re strong enough to run into the woods. Or fly into a tree. Then a taller tree. Then the sky. That’s how you’ll end up Mr. Bell. If you let yourself love a wild thing. You’ll end up looking at the sky.”
Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
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Here goes,
“Never love a wild thing Mr. Bell,” Holly advised him. “That was Doc’s mistake. He was always lugging home wild things. A hawk with a hurt wing. One time it was a full-grown bobcat with a broken leg. But you can’t give your heart to a wild thing: the more you do, the stronger they get. Until they’re strong enough to run into the woods. Or fly into a tree. Then a taller tree. Then the sky. That’s how you’ll end up Mr. Bell. If you let yourself love a wild thing. You’ll end up looking at the sky.”
Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
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Sunday, July 6, 2008
Insane World
Insane worldAnimal Instinct….
To subdue others
To show supremacy
To over power…..
Human Nature……
To be generous
To be benevolent
To remain down to earth
They are far apart
Like the day and night
Like dark and the light
Like the bark and the lullaby
Like the beast and the beauty...
Why can’t people discriminate....
The humanely and animal instinct!
The animal called human....
And human skinned animal!
Standing on the same crossroads....
Every time I finish my journey
Bewildered with the same question
Why bad attracts more attention
Why good always remains in the eyes of storm?
My mind revolts
My senses go numb
My wits get paralyzed
Leaving me in the pool of tears
Why every time I need to prove myself
Why dirty fingers pointed towards me
Why this defiant world can’t see
Who is the criminal and where the crime lies
Oh! I am so tired
I am feeling so frustrated
I want to sleep a calm sleep
To console my body and mind
Let the time take its course
Let the destiny play its role
Who I am after all
A small pawn in the destiny’s chessboard!
Comeback my sweet pretty mind
Let me breathe the sweet fragrance of life
I want to swim like a mermaid once again
In the wonderful world of my dreams
*****
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Starved
Starved !
Oh Baby !
Who let you to starve to death?
Who pushed you to this corner so dread?
Where are you mum and dad?
Are they too died in the melee of being starved?
Oh baby!
You are in the girth of death
Who snatched your milk bottle from your mouth?
Is that a monster in the human face!
To fill his stomach, he forced you to the brink of death …!
Oh baby!
Even the vulture is confused
Whether to eat you or leave you in your fate!
How those humans couldn’t let you to live
Are they worse than the vulture in the matter of profit?
Oh baby!
This world is like this famine struck earth
Here every human is a monster behind the mask
Here every human waits for opportunity
To suck out your blood to built his castle of dreams.
Oh baby!
With your delicate body and emotion
Can you fight back?
That vulture drooling to savor on your flesh and bone
Before you died away just take a last glance,
on the scattered green leaves fallen around
Don’t ever think they are the green pastures
They are scattered dreams of good humans
Who died in the dream to set up a green grazing land?
While picking the leaves and roots..
They fall pray to that vulture, who drools !
In the fight of starved humans
Survives only the vulture,
Because nobody eats his flesh and bone
********
Who let you to starve to death?
Who pushed you to this corner so dread?
Where are you mum and dad?
Are they too died in the melee of being starved?
Oh baby!
You are in the girth of death
Who snatched your milk bottle from your mouth?
Is that a monster in the human face!
To fill his stomach, he forced you to the brink of death …!
Oh baby!
Even the vulture is confused
Whether to eat you or leave you in your fate!
How those humans couldn’t let you to live
Are they worse than the vulture in the matter of profit?
Oh baby!
This world is like this famine struck earth
Here every human is a monster behind the mask
Here every human waits for opportunity
To suck out your blood to built his castle of dreams.
Oh baby!
With your delicate body and emotion
Can you fight back?
That vulture drooling to savor on your flesh and bone
Before you died away just take a last glance,
on the scattered green leaves fallen around
Don’t ever think they are the green pastures
They are scattered dreams of good humans
Who died in the dream to set up a green grazing land?
While picking the leaves and roots..
They fall pray to that vulture, who drools !
In the fight of starved humans
Survives only the vulture,
Because nobody eats his flesh and bone
********
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Rambling thoughts
Rambling thoughts
Is it that they are more intelligent? Is it that they are very self-confident? Are they born with that power by which they can achieve whatever they wished to?
In my post graduation classes I first interacted with my fellow classmates away from the influence of my parents. I started looking at them through my own perspectives. I saw every body has that self-confidence, frustration, fear, aim and desire- all these are same in all but of different nature. Few left a lingering impression on me. But a few, in spite being successful never impressed me much. After getting married I came across people from around the world. I got introduced to this metro life and this corporate world. I found being successful is not every thing. Like this picture everybody is clad with that black robe of ego, selfishness, like that small horns their arrogance is protruding from their head and that race is there within to display that flashy red dress in the crowd, that is “yes I am the best” “I am different”. But amongst all these also they have got a few qualities which will touch your soul. Even in this race there are a few who will leave you with lasting impression.
Why it is so? Like that eagle, I have seen these individuals flying in their own sky scaling the greater heights. A few are there who concentrate on their aim and achievements on this earth, A few know how to prey the other small birds ,who are just learning to fly or the small innocent rabbits and cunning rats who roam on this earth. But few eagles are there who never forget that this is this earth which made them capable to scale the sky. They love to get attached to this earth and enjoy their flight in the open sky equally. I do possess a special weakness for these individuals.
I always stay in that glass house of my thoughts, from where I could see the world and the world could see me too. But I never dared to break that glass house to scale that height to roam free in that open sky, like that eagle. I wonder is there any predator that preys the eagles too. Is flying high is that lucrative as it looks from my glass house. May be a few more years of experience will tell me this…………
Every individual is unique in his own way. Man is entrusted with some specifications from his birth. His qualities reflect in his personality and give him a distinction in this society. But have you ever noticed why some one individual emerges out to be the best, who was being loved and most cherished as a friend as a soul mate or even as a good human being! Why only one individual emerges out as the most successful, most rich or most intelligent amongst the mass!
I often wonder why in the crowd only a few get that much coveted place. Why in a mass only a few get what they really want to get. And in a crowd why only a few really get that much applause which many may wish to achieve.
I often wonder why in the crowd only a few get that much coveted place. Why in a mass only a few get what they really want to get. And in a crowd why only a few really get that much applause which many may wish to achieve.
Is it that they are more intelligent? Is it that they are very self-confident? Are they born with that power by which they can achieve whatever they wished to?
In my post graduation classes I first interacted with my fellow classmates away from the influence of my parents. I started looking at them through my own perspectives. I saw every body has that self-confidence, frustration, fear, aim and desire- all these are same in all but of different nature. Few left a lingering impression on me. But a few, in spite being successful never impressed me much. After getting married I came across people from around the world. I got introduced to this metro life and this corporate world. I found being successful is not every thing. Like this picture everybody is clad with that black robe of ego, selfishness, like that small horns their arrogance is protruding from their head and that race is there within to display that flashy red dress in the crowd, that is “yes I am the best” “I am different”. But amongst all these also they have got a few qualities which will touch your soul. Even in this race there are a few who will leave you with lasting impression.
Why it is so? Like that eagle, I have seen these individuals flying in their own sky scaling the greater heights. A few are there who concentrate on their aim and achievements on this earth, A few know how to prey the other small birds ,who are just learning to fly or the small innocent rabbits and cunning rats who roam on this earth. But few eagles are there who never forget that this is this earth which made them capable to scale the sky. They love to get attached to this earth and enjoy their flight in the open sky equally. I do possess a special weakness for these individuals.
I always stay in that glass house of my thoughts, from where I could see the world and the world could see me too. But I never dared to break that glass house to scale that height to roam free in that open sky, like that eagle. I wonder is there any predator that preys the eagles too. Is flying high is that lucrative as it looks from my glass house. May be a few more years of experience will tell me this…………
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