Maharashtra Suspends Ajanta Catamaran License After Mandwa Mishap; 3-Member Probe Panel Formed

Following a recent incident near Alibaug in Raigad district involving the Ajanta company's catamaran passenger boat, the license of the boat company has been cancelled, said a statement issued by District Information Officer (DIO) of Raigad. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed by the Maharashtra Maritime Board, which will conduct a detailed probe into the mishap and submit its report to the state government within three days, the statement said. Maharashtra’s Minister for Fisheries and Port Development, Nitesh Rane, has ordered a thorough investigation.

The catamaran, carrying 130 passengers, was en route from Gateway of India to Mandwa on Wednesday evening when seawater began entering the vessel around 1 to 1.5 kilometers away from the Mandwa jetty. The incident triggered panic among the passengers and crew, who immediately called for help. Nearby boats responded swiftly, rescuing all passengers and safely ferrying them to shore. Although no injuries were reported, the situation posed a serious threat to passenger safety, the statement read.

“In the wake of the incident, the boat’s passenger transport license, registration certificate, and survey certificate were immediately suspended. Passenger operations by the company have been halted until further notice, following directives from Minister Rane,” DIO confirmed.

Taking serious note of the matter, Minister Rane convened a high-level meeting and emphasized that any negligence that endangers lives will not be tolerated. He has directed officials to take strict action against those responsible and called for the establishment of clear and stringent operational and technical guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Maharashtra Maritime Board’s senior administrative officer, Pradeep Badiye, has announced the formation of the three-member committee. Chief Marine Surveyor and Engineer Prakash Chavan will head the panel, with Regional Port Officer (Bandra) C.J. Lepande as a member, and Maritime Security Officer Commandant Santosh Nair serving as the member-secretary.

The committee will thoroughly examine the incident, determine its root cause, and provide actionable recommendations to prevent recurrence. The report is expected to be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra Maritime Board within three days.