EVEN as the Indian Coast Guard carried out aerial tour around the grounded barge off the Srivardhan coast
some 200 miles from Mumbai, the police and customs officials yesterday mounted the vessel.

Superintendent of Police (Raigad district) Pratap Dighavkar told MiD DAY that his officers managed to board the stranded ship yesterday.

"Preliminary search reveal very little. Coast Guard officers are still investigating the case,'' added Dighavkar.
The massive Dina Barge, with 12 other smaller barges on her deck, grounded off the Srivardhan coast on Thursday, spreading panic among residents of the sleepy villages along the sensitive coastline.

Investigations have indicated that the deck barge was manufactured at Nantong Tonjde Shipyard in Nontong, China and chartered by Klebusthaug Offshore in Norway.

Coast Guard officials in Mumbai are still trying to ascertain the circumstances which led to grounding of the massive ship worth a few hundred crore.

The missing crew and the fact that no one has claimed the ship yet, is worrying intelligence officials.
The Coast Guard has approached the director general of shipping so that a search for the owners could be launched. A detailed police report on the mysterious ship is awaited.