Six witnesses were heard by the Court of Investigation on the sinking of the tugboat, Sir Gaetan on Wednesday, July 21, presided over by the former judge, Gerard Angoh and the captains, Mahendra Babooa and Jacques Goiltot.
According to the employee of the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA), Koslendr Pothimah, the tug Sir Gaëtan was fit to tow the barge Ami Constant in the wake of the sinking of the Bulk carrier, MV Wakashio, off Pointe d’Esny. He stressed that the tug Sir Gaëtan was powerful enough to tow the barge. However, the witness stressed that the other two tugs available to the MPA, namely the Sir Edouard and Da Patten, were more appropriate for this mission. He relied on the time, weather conditions and the late hour of the mission.
He added that the tug Sir Edouard was not requested for safety reasons. As for Vischal Tewary, another MPA employee, he pointed out that the Sir Edouard was the most suitable to tow the barge but that the Deputy Port Master and the Port Master did not want to hear anything.
The next session is scheduled for July 23 at the Supreme Court.
