MV MAA
Die letzten Häfen
Die letzten Wegpunkte
Die neuesten Nachrichten
National Green Tribunal raised questions over compliance with directions
Works, which were undertaken on the 'Maa' near Tenneti Park, have raised questions over compliance with the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directions, as the proposal to convert the ship into a tourism attraction was yet to clear the prescribed approval process. Denizens and environmentalists were seeking clarity on the permissions under which the activities are being carried out. In its order in a suo motu case (OA No. 702 of 2023), the NGT directed that no construction, stabilisation, installation of structures or tourism-related activities, including preliminary works, should be undertaken at the site until all statutory approvals, including Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and forest clearances, were obtained. The National Green Tribunal passed the order while disposing of a suo motu case. It also directed the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA) to complete its appraisal of the proposal, including a field inspection and assessment of wastewater and solid waste management, structural safety and potential impacts on the coast. The authority directed the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) to constitute a high-level committee to finalise the tourism facilities proposed on the vessel, and resubmit the proposal through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal for further examination. Environmental concerns extended beyond the ship itself. The proposed painting of the vessel has drawn particular scrutiny, as the site falls within an ecologically sensitive intertidal zone. Environmentalists warned that paint residues could affect marine organisms, while road construction could disturb a turtle-nesting site and the rocky shoreline. The area’s ecological significance came into focus during the City Nature Challenge in April, when a translucent nudibranch, or sea slug, believed to be a rediscovery of a species not recorded for more than 160 years, was recorded. The APCZMA minutes also noted that the project proponent had been advised against including a kitchen and banquet hall. A committee visit found that both facilities were being planned, prompting the authority to seek further consideration of the proposed tourism facilities. With the proposal still subject to scrutiny, locals demand the authorities to establish the nature of the works currently being carried out, and clarify whether any approvals have been granted. They claimed that the ongoing works wee a direct violation of the NGT order and amount to contempt of court. The NGT had directed that the project, or any activity planned as part of it, be halted until the required clearances were obtained.
Grounded vessel likely to be used as ‘shore and ship resort’ from April
After obtaining the necessary permissions from CZMA, the APTDC will develop the 'Maa' as a tourist attraction in association with Gill Marines and ready it within the next two months. Tourism officials are planning to convert the ship, which is stucknear Tenneti Park, into a tourist destination. The ship is currently not yet open to the public. Some maintenance work like painting was being done to prevent rusting. On Feb 19, 2025, the ship owner Surender Singh Gill, managing director of Shore & Ship Resorts Private Limited (M/s Gill Marines), said they were spending an amount of ₹5 lakh per month on the maintenance. The government was yet to grant all necessary approvals to the project as it wanted to ensure that any tourism activity does not contravene any Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) guidelines. The government formalities will be completed soon to make the ship useful in terms of tourism. To provide the necessary infrastructure like approach road, toilets & changing rooms, the APTDC has applied for permission from the Forest Department and A.P. Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA). The Forest Department has given permission, but the permissions from CZMA were yet to be granted. After obtaining the necessary permissions, APTDC will associate with Gill Marines to develop the ship as a ‘Shore and Ship resort. The ship, which was waiting to load cargo at the Visakhapatnam Anchorage Port, was said to have lost two anchors and drifted ashore during a cyclonic storm in the early hours of Oct 13, 2020. It drifted ashore and finally ran aground on the hard rocky shore at Tenneti Park near the foothills of Kailasagiri. After rescue operations and recovery work failed, the ship’s owners, Advance Shipping Limited, Dhaka, decided to declare the ship as abandoned. The ship’s insurers, North of England, took possession of the ship and declared it a wreck and proposed to scrap it. The then YSRCP government proposed to use the ship for tourism purposes by developing it as a floating restaurant. Gill Marines, which had then taken over the ship from the insurers, offered to sell the abandoned ship to APTDC for ₹4.50 crore. APTDC informed Gill Marines that it would provide all necessary support for development of the ship as a tourist attraction. On October 20, 2021, Gill Marines accepted the APTDC offer. Report with photo: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/beached-bangladeshi-vessel-likely-to-be-used-as-shore-and-ship-resort-from-april/article69239032.ece
Grounded ship still waiting for conversion
The future of the'Maa', which grounded during a cyclonic storm on Oct 12, 2020, on the shore abutting Tenneti Park in Visakhapatnam, for which the previous YSRCP government proposed to utilise the ship for tourism purposes by developing it into a floating restaurant and which was approved to purchase and remodel the ship at an estimated cost of Rs 10.5 crore as a major tourist attraction, is still uncertain. The Gill Marines came forward to develop the ship as a resort through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) exclusively created for the purpose and sought for the support to provide infrastructure. Based on the request of Gill Marines, APTDC asked to submit a detailed proposal along with a DPR on the works to be handled by the SPV for the development of the 'Maa' in two phases Gill Marines commenced necessary repair and development works to the ship and proposed to develop the beachfront with a restaurant and landscaping. In order to facilitate APTDC to handle the ship project in collaboration with Gill Marines, a letter was sent to GVMC and VMRDA to handover Tenneti Park to the control of the APTDC for its development and future maintenance. With the formation of the new government, hopes to revoke the floating restaurant project got revoked. The AP Tourism was awaiting clearances from the forest Department along with other wings.
News schreiben