Another three armament shells were discovered in the mud lodged inside the dredger undergoing repair work at Western India Shipyard Ltd dock at Mormugao port after four workers were injured in an explosion reported on Wednesday.
An investigation is being conducted and the shells have been sent to the naval armament depot in Dabolim. S M Paranjpe, chief inspector of factories and boilers inspectorate said the workers erred in not reporting the matter to the concerned authorities at the workshop, but the management shares the blame in not supervising the work.
Authorities verbally informed the inspectorate of factories and boilers that the vessel, which was being repaired in the WISL dry dock, was a dredger belonging to Dredging Corporation of India – DCI. Prior to its arrival at Mormugao port, the vessel had been stationed near Karwar beach.
It is believed that the armament shells used in firing practice may have fallen on the sea bed and during dredging may have mixed with the mud, which remained stuck to the vessel.
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Dredging Today Staff, February 24, 2012; Image: dredge-india