RAJKOT: Acting on a specific tip-off, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Jamnagar unit, seized two imported tugs from Pipavav port and recovered Rs 7.60 crore customs duty.
According to DRI officials, tug ‘Pacific Buccaneer’ was towing the crane barge ‘GMS Sharqi’ from Shanghai to Abu Dhabi. The tow, however, parted due to rough weather and got grounded off the coast of Chhara village near Mul Dwarka port and its tow parted. All attempts to reconnect the tow were futile due to rough weather condition.
Pacific Buccaneer was chartered to carry out the salvage of the grounded barge. The salvage operation was given to Singapore-based Swire Salvage Pte Ltd. The tug was chartered by Swire Salvage and offered the same to Abu Dhabhi-based Gulf Marine Services, Mussafah Base for salvage operation ‘GMS Sharqui 5603’. Since it was not possible to carry out the operation by a single tug, another tug ‘Coral Sea Fos’ was imported from Dubai for assisting in operation.
