Monday, August 30, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Goa beaches turn black, oil spill suspected

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 08:14 AM PDT

An oil spill was reported from off the Goa coast on Monday evening. The Indian Coast Guard denied the reports, but said the sea turned black due to some substance. All big beaches have turned totally black and people are being evacuated from the area. A huge amount of tarball or solidified pieces of oil have surfaced at the beaches.

The first warning was received at 7 pm and all fishermen have been told to stay off. All beaches have been closed till Tuesday morning. Thousands of tourists, including foreigners, flock to Goa beaches every day.

A similar oil spill took place in Mumbai some time ago. The incident occurred after the Panama-flagged MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia 3 collided off the Mumbai coast on August 7. MSC Chitra, which was outbound from South Mumbai’s Nava Sheva port, collided with the inbound MV Khalijia-III, which caused about 200 cargo containers from MSC Chitra to be thrown into the Arabian Sea.

Courtesy: ibnlive

Goa shipyard to work out deal with Coast Guard: Official

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 03:52 AM PDT

The Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) is in dialogue with the Coast Guard to make the shipyard a one-stop-shop for all repair and maintenance work of the maritime force’s vessels, a top official said Monday. Addressing a press conference in Panaji, GSL chairman Vineet Bakshi said he was examining the possibility of a long-term relationship with the Coast Guard. ‘The Indian Coast Guard does not have its own shipyard unlike the Indian Navy. We are examining the possibility of a long-term relationship with them for the maintenance and repair of their vessels,’ Bakshi said.

The former rear admiral also said that there were a lot of logistical issues that needed to be addressed if GSL were to be made the ‘principal ship repair yard’ for the Coast Guard. ‘A lot of logistics need to be worked out. Right now, we have the capability to repair two Coast Guard vessels at a time,’ he said. The Coast Guard’s mission is to protect India’s maritime interests, including the coastline, Exclusive Economic Zone and shipping and other aspects of maritime law enforcement.

There are currently five advanced offshore patrol vessels, nine offshore patrol vessels, and 11 fast patrol vessels in the Coast Guard fleet apart from other small vessels. The GSL is a defence ministry-operated public sector undertaking located in Vasco, 35 km from here.

Courtesy: sify

Goa Holidays – The Mesmerizing Beaches

Posted: 29 Aug 2010 09:22 AM PDT

Goa and beaches – The two words are just synonyms of each other! Anyone in India or even abroad who thinks about enjoying a beach holiday in India just cannot miss a trip to Goa. The tiny land, actually, is a paradise for beach lovers! Amongst the most popular beaches of Goa are Anjuna, Colva, Calangute and Baga. The first of these, Anjuna is famous for its nightlife and flea market. The natural beauty of Anjuna with swaying palm trees is like an icing on the cake. The beach is just 8 kms from Mapusa and is a part of 30 km stretch that begins form Fort Aguada and culminates in Chapora river and fort.

Also a part of this stretch are the Baga and Calangute beach. Though the two beaches are close by, they differ with each other. While Calangute attracts visitors in large number, Baga is relatively quiet, specially as far as local tourists are concerned. And this is despite the fact that the natural beauty of the latter exceeds the former by a huge degree. A long walk along the Baga beach is totally worth taking. Baga is not generally safe for swimming whereas Calangute is somewhat. Tourists interested in swimming in these two beaches should really avoid the mouth of the river and high tides respectively. The nightlife of Baga is far more active than that of Calangute. At Baga, Friday and Saturday nights are most happening. Given so many differences, there are also similarities amongst the two beaches – both have ample opportunity to enjoy water sports like paragliding, parasailing, windsurfing, surfing, speedboat rides and jet skiing.

Colva is retreat for tourists looking for a tranquility. For a good part of the year, Colva does not see a lot many tourists, however, come October and the trend is broken. Large number of people throng the area to pay their respect to infant Jesus in the Colva Church. Other than the church, the other high point of the beach is the trip which is conducted to spot dolphins and crocodiles. Other adventure sports like parasailing and jet skiing can also be enjoyed here.

Other beaches that attract tourists are Vagator, Candolim, Miramar and Dona Paula. The first of these beaches is hugely popular with British and Israeli tourists. The Chapora Fort that adds charm to this beach, the fresh water spring and the Lord Shiva provide for abundant sightseeing while the Chapora village nearby is just perfect for anglers. At Candolim, sightseeing options include the Church of St Lawrence and the Candolim Church. A number of boat operators offer river cruises, fishing trips and island trips to spot dolphins and crocodiles. Both Miramir and Dona Paula are quieter beaches that allow for a peaceful walk, Scuba diving option is available at both beaches. Goa holidays offer you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beaches of Goa. It is one thing you should never miss out on a holiday to Goa.

To know more about the beaches of Goa and its other attractions, check out Goa Holidays

Courtesy: booshnews
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