The fate of the controversial ocean liner Platinum II, which is moored in the high seas off the Gujarat coast, awaiting beaching permission for Alang, hangs in balance till October 23. A five-member team of the Union Ministry of Environment will present an inspection report by then.

The now-discarded Rs 35 crore, nine-decked, 1,000 passenger vessel has been embroiled in controversy following reports of hazardous substances like asbestos and radioactive material on board.

The inspection team led by S E R Das, an industrial advisor in the Ministry of Steel, though remained tight-lipped over the presence of hazardous material. “We were here as the eyes and ears of the Central government, and are not a mouthpiece. The report will be submitted to the Ministry by October 23. The government will decide on the fate of the ship,” Das told media persons.

Contrary to claims by the ship owner, he added that the vessel has not developed any major leak. “We did not notice any major crack,” he said.

The other team members include two representatives each from the Central Pollution Control Board and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.

Ship owner Komalkant Sharma, however, said on Wednesday that the crack at the bottom of the liner has widened and he has now summoned a special vessel rescue team from Mumbai.

“My priority is to save the vessel or it might sink. The crack has further widened and the bottom is flooded. The ship has stuck 4-5 miles off the Gopnath coast in Tadaja, which is some 25 km from the Alang Ship Breaking Yard,” he added.

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