Sunday, July 31 2005 11:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Samudra Suraksha, the vessel that triggered India's worst-ever oil disaster, killing at least 11 people and wiping out 15 per cent of oil production, suffered from no technical fault and was certified fit for operations till September 2007, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has said.

State-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), which operated the multi-purpose supply vessel for ONGC, in a letter dated July 30, 2005 said, "All Class and Statutory certificates pertaining to MSV Samudra Suraksha are valid till November 30, 2007."

Rubbishing reports of Samudra Suraksha operating well past its retirement age, ONGC in a detailed response to the Petroleum Ministry said, "Age limit for these (MSVs) is 25 years with provision for extending the life by another 5 years based on the condition of the vessel. The MSV Samudra Suraksha has completed (only) 22 years."

It annexed 15 different statutory and class certificates validating Samudra Suraksha's operational fitness for two years.

Officials said all the thrusters, which provide power to keep the vessel stationary in choppy sea conditions, were completely overhauled during October-December 2003 at Dubai under the supervision of Rolls Royce Service Engineers, the original equipment manufacturers. "As such, all the thrusters were in excellent condition meeting all class requirements."

ONGC also refuted reports of failure of dynamic positioning system, which is supposed to keep the vessel at one position.

The MSV was transferring an injured person to the platform on the afternoon of July 27, 2005 when it ruptured a gas line triggering the fire at the platform.

SCI, in its letter, said, "All the marine/diving personnel deployed onboard MSV Samudra Suraksha are well trained and qualified personnel having appropriate valid certificates."

"The Vessel is classed with DNV/IRS and statutory certificates are issued by MMD," SCI stated.

ONGC said the Classification Societies and Statutory Maritime Authorities do not have any age restriction/limit for operations of the vessels. The vessels are permitted to operate as long as all the mandatory certificates are kept valid and periodical surveys are carried out to their satisfaction.

MSV Samundra Suraksha was commissioned in 1982.

"All the equipments/machineries of Samudra Suraksha were maintained as per the recommendations of original equipment manufacturers and were duly certified by the Classification Society (DNV & IRS)," it said.

The company refuted reports that Samudra Suraksha's diesel engine could not provide the power to handle the rough sea saying, "The question of diesel engines not having enough power does not arise as the vessel was not in the fire-fighting mode and enough surplus power was available on the vessel."

"The vessel Samudra Suraksha did not sink and the vessel is presently being towed with the help of other vessels to the sheltered water near Mumbai," it said.

ONGC has constituted a panel headed by former ONGC Chairman S K Manglik to inquire into the accident. Former GAIL Chairman S S Cheena and former ONGC Director (technical) Ishwari Dutt are also on the panel who would be assisted by Royal Dutch/Shell, which has experts for incident investigation.