They said a ship, a crane barge and two barges were proceeding to Paradip port from Mumbai. The first incident occurred yesterday when the rope connecting the crane barge and the ship snapped between the Karaikal-Nagapattinam stretch.
The crane barge drifted towards coast and was grounded near Nagore yesterday afternoon.
While efforts were on to return this barge back to sea, crew of the other two barges tried to bring them to this port for anchoring. But strong tidal waves pushed the barges ashore and they were grounded near Arasalar estuary here.
Coast Guard officials rushed to the spot and conducted enquiries. The shipping company informed the CG they had taken steps to retrieve all three barges, the sources said.
