<p class="bodytext">As a part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Indian Ports Act, the New Mangalore Port Trust has started the process of ‘arresting and beaching’ of Bhagavati Prem, a dredger, after it started to drift.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The dredger is owned by Mumbai-based Mercator Ltd. Tridevi Prem, another dredger of the same company, had sunk about 2.5 nautical miles off the port on September 2.</p>.<p class="bodytext">NMPT Chairman A V Ramana said that the port had issued several notices to Mercator, asking them to remove the dredgers from port limits. The NMPT is executing a standard operating procedure to prevent mishaps of sinking and possible environment hazard, he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With meteorological reports mentioning the possibility of another low-pressure system off the coast of Karnataka within a week, the deputy conservator of the Port has pressed service to carry out the SOP and prevent any untoward incident.</p>
<p class="bodytext">As a part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Indian Ports Act, the New Mangalore Port Trust has started the process of ‘arresting and beaching’ of Bhagavati Prem, a dredger, after it started to drift.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The dredger is owned by Mumbai-based Mercator Ltd. Tridevi Prem, another dredger of the same company, had sunk about 2.5 nautical miles off the port on September 2.</p>.<p class="bodytext">NMPT Chairman A V Ramana said that the port had issued several notices to Mercator, asking them to remove the dredgers from port limits. The NMPT is executing a standard operating procedure to prevent mishaps of sinking and possible environment hazard, he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With meteorological reports mentioning the possibility of another low-pressure system off the coast of Karnataka within a week, the deputy conservator of the Port has pressed service to carry out the SOP and prevent any untoward incident.</p>