Off Mumbai, coast not clear of maritime disasters

The heavy maritime traffic involving massive cargo ships in what is considered the country's busiest port and the presence of smaller vessels like fishing boats, tourist boats, sand dredgers, barges and private luxury yachts, besides defence ships, in the area have made the Mumbai harbour and its surroundings a sitting duck for shipping disasters.

Top officials from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS) said high traffic apart, there is also human error involved in the maritime accidents in and around the Mumbai coast.

"It cannot be said that the frequency of accidents has increased or decreased in the past couple of years. However, the visibility of accidents in recent times has gone up," Director General S.B. Agnihotri told IANS.

Explaining 'human errors', Agnihotri said accidents happen even though each vessel - entering or leaving the Mumbai harbour - is given a pilot to guide it in or out safely.

According to S.P.S. Basra, inspector-general (West), ICG, there have been eight big and small incidents of ships being grounded in 2011, seven in 2010 and six in 2009.

In an incident March 23, 2010, an Indian Coast Guard ship (ICGS) was rammed by a merchant navy ship, M.V. Global Purity, when the latter was being brought for docking at the Mumbai Port Trust.

The merchant vessel hit ICGS Vivek thrice, severely damaging its hull and causing heavy flooding on board when it was undergoing repairs in the Indira Docks. Subsequently, ICGS Vivek sank in the port area.

Barely five months later, on Aug 7, 2010, two foreign cargo ships - M.V. MSC Chitra and M.V. Khalijia-3 - collided in the main navigation channel of the Mumbai harbour, seriously disrupting maritime traffic going in and out of the port, as well as the adjacent Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and the Naval Dockyard.

The collision resulted in nearly 400 tonnes of oil spill, some impact of which can still be seen in the mangroves in the Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coastal areas.

Besides the environmental hazards it caused, several huge loaded containers slid and fell off the heavily tilted M.V. MSC Chitra, resulting in the total closure of harbour channel for a fortnight.

navy rate shirt - New Navy Rate and Rank Military Design Just ...

They design and create. The Navy Rank and Rate shirt design at Vision-Strike-Wear.Com provides the Battle Rattle customization options to change each component of your military design into a one-of-a-kind Navy apparel to be printed on men and women’s short or long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, tank-tops, sleeveless shirts, shorts or sweatpants for yourself or a loved one. Navy sailors steam ahead with the Battle Rattle customization options program found only at Vision-Strike-Wear.Com. View as the Battle Rattle options you select are instantly updated and displays the layout of your unique design in real-time. Select your NAVY RANK from Seaman to Command Master Chief and have it prominently displayed on your design. Choose a custom NAVY RATE and choose naval rates from aviation, construction, administration, deck, medical, technical, weapons specialty, engineering, hull and general and have it instantly appear on your custom naval graphic military design. Show your rank and rate insignia prominently on your Naval apparel item with the full force, firepower and might of the Navy arsenal from aircraft carrier, to destroyers, naval aircraft and submarine.

Founded in 2009 Vision-Strike-Wear is a company formed from many years of love and passion for the idea of freedom and the perpetuation of these ideas to today and in the future. In the past many have fought to defend these freedoms with little corresponding efforts to support their efforts unitl long after the fact. Vision-Strike-Wear's motto is to "Serve the Modern Military Soldier" serving right now, TODAY!, somewhere in the world. We hope to celebrate their efforts during the time in which they need the morale support most. As part of our efforts to COVER THE BACKS of many of these military individuals and units, Vision-Strike-Wear is obligated to give back and provide the opportunity to help support those within the military community through various relationships with military organizations. Through these relationships we can continue to support these fine troops in more than providing the shirt on their backs but also for their family, friends and community.

Navy uniforms, insignia, and warships of WW II

Warman's World War II Collectibles, Identification and Price Guide

Army and navy uniforms and insignia, how to know rank, corps and service in the military and naval forces of the United States and foreign countries

Japanese Paratroop Forces of World War II

US Coast Guard in World War II