The captain of ports (CoP) department has permitted all inland water vessels to cross
the Aguada sand bar from Saturday, but warned marine traffic that the weather can deteriorate and make crossing it tricky.
In his notice to mariners, captain of ports Vikas Gaunekar said that while fishing vessels, barges, and other vessels are permitted to navigate under the Zuari and Mandovi bridges, navigation through the Cumbharjua canal under the Banastarim bridge is strictly banned.
COP has also urged vessel owners to take absolute caution to ensure that the vessels are sea-worthy in every respect, such as engines, steering, and manning. “They are to ensure that masters with disabilities, bad eye-sight, drunkenness, or any deficiency that may hamper their reflexes or efficiency or competency, should not be put on duty while navigating,” said Gaunekar.
While the Aguada bar was declared open for all water-borne traffic, Gaunekar did point out that the minimum depth over the Aguada sand bar is 2m.
“Masters or serangs of all vessels exceeding draught of 1.9m are hereby warned not to cross through the Aguada sand bar during low water period and are advised to cross through the Aguada sand bar only during high water period, with utmost care and caution, by assessing the situation,” said Gaunekar.
The CoP has relaxed the restrictions on marine traffic as the monsoon is on its way out. Gaunekar also said that with the opening up of the river mouth, the lighthouses along the Mandovi river will start functioning and alerting vessels of navigational hazards such as reefs, shoals, and sand patches.
“They should therefore navigate the area with utmost caution as required by prudent seamanship, go slow, scan the area, and then proceed,” said Gaunekar. “Passenger ferry boats will have the right of way, others to keep clear. Any damage, harm, or any other minor occurrence as a result of the commercial activities will have to be compensated to the government.”