Andaman to decommission 45 years old passenger ship MV Akbar

MV Akbar 45 years old iconic passenger ship is decommissioned by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Since two years due to regular machinery breakdowns the ship has been non-serviceable.

As per the officials, the spares for the major and auxiliary machineries of the vintage ship have become obsolete in markets forcing the Andaman Administration to proceed with the decision to decommission the ship despite shortage of ships for operation between Andaman Islands and Mainland India.

Captain Rajinder Kumar, director, Andaman’s Shipping Services said that “The Directorate has sent the proposal for decommissioning the Ship long back and now a committee have to be constituted, the value and value after sale of the scraps have to assessed, environmental clearance needed are the among many things which is to consider, there is long procedure for decommissioning the Ship,”

During the period of Lt. governor Vakkam Purushotaman MV Akbar joined the fleet of Andaman and Nicobar’s Shipping Services. Before that, the Indian relief ship was used to ferry pilgrims between Iraq and Dubai.

Presently Cochin Shipyard Limited is going to ready two passenger vessels for Andaman Island by 2020 each with a capacity  to carry 1,200 passengers and 1,000 tonne cargo, , till then MV Akbar will probably have no replacement.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/aug/21/andaman-to-decommission-passenger-ship-mv-akbar-1645956.html