Mumbai: The Indian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship INS Sarvekshak reached Colombo from India on Thursday to assist in the assessment of underwater seabed condition around the site of the disaster involving MV X-Press Pearl which caught fire and sank recently.
The day also marked the historic Poson Poya Day, which commemorates the introduction of Buddhism from India in Sri Lanka, another glorious chapter in the millennia-old strong connections between the two neighbouring countries, official sources said.
INS Sarvekshak is fitted with cutting-edge survey technology, including a side-scan sonar, which would aid in the survey efforts underway near the troubled MV X-Press Pearl and off the coast of Colombo.
According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, INS Sarvekshak was dispatched in response to an official request from the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure the safety of navigation in the area outside the Colombo harbour.
The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), the Sri Lankan Navy, and the Indian Navy will jointly participate in the survey operations.
On Thursday, a coordination meeting was held to discuss the plans in this regard.
Prof. A Navaratneraja, Chairman NARA, Dr H.M.P. Kithsiri, Director-General NARA, Captain Vikas Sood, Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, and Captain Wijesooriya from the Sri Lankan Navy were present at the meeting.
MV X-Press Pearl, carrying 1,486 containers, had caught fire in the third week of May 2021, which was controlled following an extended India-Sri Lanka joint operation as part of Operation Sagar Aaraksha 2.
Many institutions, including the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Sri Lankan government, were concerned that the sunk containers that fell off the ship posed a serious threat to the livelihood of the fisherman community living along Sri Lanka’s western coast, as well as the safety of marine traffic passing through Colombo port.
In continuation of Operation Sagar Aaraksha 2, the collaborative Survey Operations would aid in the restoration of safe passage in the area and complement Indian policy, which calls for, among other things, prompt assistance in minimising such disasters in the Indian Ocean Region.
(Venkatesh Iyer)