The wreckage of MV Black Rose. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 10: The state BJP will submit a memorandum to the Union ministry of shipping on how the Paradip Port Trust officials allowed the Mongolian cargo ship, MV Black Rose, to enter its jurisdiction without a valid licence.

The party suspects that the port trust went out of the way to help some influential people ship iron ore through the port.

Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra said: “The entry of Black Rose into the port area has established that the port trust officials connived with influential people, who had booked the ship to transport the iron ore. We are preparing a memorandum based on some documents. We will submit it to the Centre shortly.”

The vessel capsized on February 9, 2009 in the Bay of Bengal off Paradip coast while going back from the port. Mohapatra alleged that the port officials spent nearly Rs 16 crore trying to bring the ship to the shore, but the effort proved futile. The ship was running without a valid maritime licence, and its insurance and fitness papers were forged.

The crime branch has submitted its report on the issue and sent letters rogatory (formal request to foreign agency) to seek assistance for extradition of Kok Sikti, the Singapore-based owner of the Mongolian ship. But, questions are being asked about the whereabouts of the two companies, which had booked the ship to send iron ore to China.

A number of people close to the ruling party were earlier involved in exporting minerals through the port. One of the two companies, which had given its headquarters’ address as Fortune Tower, Chandrasekharpur, already shifted its office. But, its website continues to show the same address.

Excise minister Damodar Rout said his main concern was the pollution likely to be caused by the ship’s wreckage. “Since I represent the Paradip constituency, I am concerned about the safety of the people here. I am not concerned about who was sending what through the ship. I am more concerned about retrieving the ship’s wreckage from the sea, so that it does not cause any pollution. An inquiry will bring out relevant facts,” said Rout.

Port trust sources said the wreckage salvage operation remained a non-starter as the Union shipping ministry was yet to release funds for it. The cost of clearing the debris is estimated at Rs 120 crore, while the scrap from the debris will hardly fetch Rs 4 crore. The port trust has submitted a report in this regard to the shipping ministry, official sources said.