News
Tilted vessel makes big noise about ownership
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority came to know only recently that a vessel which tilted to a side during the recent stormy weather did not belong to the Navy but to a private company which now owes the SLPA a huge amount in anchoring fees.
The vessel, named Lihiniya, was bought by a former Navy officer
The vessel had initially belonged to the Navy, but two years ago, the Navy had sold it at an auction. The A 541 type vessel named Lihiniya with a capacity to carry 100 passengers was bought by a former Navy officer for Rs 5.6 million. Since then, the 30-metre long vessel had changed hands twice, the Sunday Times learns.
An SLPA spokesman said that though the fees should have been paid immediately after the auction was completed by the Navy in 2016, it was only recently that the Navy had informed the SLPA about the transaction.
“Until we were informed about the transaction, we were under the impression that the vessel belonged to the Navy. We were unaware that it had been sold. Now we understand the owners have to pay anchoring fees to the SLPA,” the spokesman said.
SLPA Chairman Parakrama Dissanayake told the Sunday Times that it was the responsibility of the owners to make the payments.
However, Navy spokesman D.M.D.C. Bandara said that, soon after the ship was auctioned, the Galle Port had been informed about the auction and the transfer of ownership.
“It is up to the Ports Authority to collect the anchoring fee from the owners,” he said.
He said that although the tilted vessel was owned by a private company the Navy was involved in the operation to put it upright, as it was hindering the day-to-day operations of the port, which is popular among foreign yachts and tourists.
The vessel had hit another vessel anchored alongside it, causing damage to it, the Sunday Times learns.
A company spokesman claimed that though the Navy’s assistance had been sought, the company would bear the cost of the rescue operation and was also paying for cranes and other equipment used in the operation.
The operation was continuing on Friday with Navy divers using equipment such as ‘lifting air bags’. Two of the bags were damaged in the operation.
The operation continues with Navy divers using equipment such as lifting air bags
The tilted vessel was hindering the day-to-day operations of the port
The Navy is involved in the operation to put the vessel upright