Mumbai boat tragedy: A look at previous incidents in the city

A total of 13 people died in the accident after an Indian Navy speed boat hit a ferry board on Wednesday while it was on its way from Gateway of India to the Gharapuri Island, which houses the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Elephanta Caves.

As a multi-agency search and rescue (S&R) continues along the Mumbai-Raigad coast in search of two persons who are still reported missing, take a look at similar sea incidents along the coast of Mumbai over the years:

Coast Guard ship Vivek sinks

On March 23, 2010, Coast Guard's vessel ICGS Vivek sank after a merchant vessel rammed her at the Mumbai port. A merchant ship, MV Global Purity rammed her, while being brought for docking in Mumbai Port Trust.

The merchant ship collided with and hit ICGS Vivek three times, which resulted in severe damage and heavy flooding of seawater into the ship. The ship subsequently sank.

Collision between MV MSC Chitra-MV Al Khalijia-3

On August 7, 2010, two ships – container ship MV MSC Chitra and MV Al Khalijia-3 collided at the Mumbai harbour channel. Nearly 400 metric tonnes of oil spilled – the impact of which is still seen on the mangroves.

The closure of the harbour channel for a fortnight affected the operations of the Mumbai port and the Nhava-Sheva port. Oil spill was reported in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane and Raigad districts. Several containers came down from the MV MSC Chitra which was tilted for several days.

Ships brush each other

On August 31, 2010, a coastal vessel ‘Nand Hajara’ was berthed at Indira Dock for discharge of steel cargo brushed another vessel, Beas Dolphin when she was being docked at berth No.5 of Indira Rock. The OSV brushed the mini-bulk carrier ‘Nand Hajara’.

As a result of the contact, one wing ballast water tank got holed leading to ingress of water and the vessel ‘Nand Hajara’ listed 7 per cent degrees.

Frigate Vindhyagiri sinks

On January 31, 2011, Indian Navy's frontline frigate INS Vindhyagiri sunk in Mumbai dockyard, a year after she was involved in a collision with a Cyprus-flagged container ship MV Nordlake.

The ships collided at the main harbour channel. The incident took place when the warship was returning from a day-at-sea.

MV Widsom hits Juhu beach

On June 11, 2011, MV Wisdom, a Singapore-flag 9,367 ton 26-year old ship broke loose from its tugboat, MV Seabulk Polver, when it was being towed for breaking from Colombo to Alang in Gujarat, and was stuck in the soft sand at Juhu Beach.

On that day it appeared that she would hit the Worli-Bandra Sea Link. After hectic and repeated efforts for several days, she was towed out of Mumbai shores on June 2, 2011.

MT Pavit runs adrift at Versova-Juhu coast

On July 31, 2011, MT Pavit, an over 60-mts-long, 999-tonne vessel, reached the Versova-Juhu coast, after being abandoned off Ras-al-Madrakah along the Gulf of Oman on June 29 – and presumed sunk. The ship had over 30 tons of oil on board.

Explosion on Sindhurakshak

On the eve of Independence Day celebrations in 2013, INS Sindhurakshak, which was at the South Breakwater jetty met with a tragedy after a series of explosions on board the vessel.

Three persons who were on watch duty, jumped to the Arabian Sea and escaped, but 18 personnel inside the vessel perished in what was the worst submarine accident for the Indian Navy.

Fire on Sindhuratna

On 26 February, 2014, here was a fire in one of the compartments of INS Sindhuratna, in which two officers were killed. The Sindhughosh-class of submarines are the mainstay of the Indian Navy.

INS Sindhughosh is the first and lead ship of the diesel-electric class of submarines and is of Russian origin.

Fire on Brahmaputra

On 22 July, 2024, Indian Navy’s multi-role guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra was severely damaged and listed in the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. A junior sailor died in the fire.