Panaji: The Captain of Ports department has granted interim permission to Delta Corp to relocate the offshore casino vessel MV Horseshoe, operating as Deltin Royale, near the Patto bridge while preparations are under way to induct a larger 112-metre vessel.Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues said Delta Corp has been allowed to anchor Deltin Royale until April 30, after which it must be permanently shifted to the site where Royale Floatel is currently anchored. The Royale Floatel will be moved out of the River Mandovi.
“The new casino will come in place of the MV Horseshoe at Verem, as that is the only place feasible for its size. The MV Horseshoe will take the place of the smaller vessel, which is the Dolphin casino,” said Rodrigues. The new vessel is expected to accommodate over 1,000 people, compared to the existing vessel’s capacity of 390.AAP state president Valmiki Naik and activist Sabina Martins led residents to meet Rodrigues, urging him not to allow the new vessel into the Mandovi.“If they do not have survey documents, if they do not have compliance, then I will definitely not allow the vessel to come in. But if the vessel has all the papers and survey documents, I cannot stop anything. I can only stop the vessel if they do not have the statutory documents and survey certificates,” Rodrigues said.Naik demanded status quo and opposed the temporary relocation.“Do not allow proliferation of casinos. That is our demand. We will approach ports minister Digambar Kamat and meet the chief minister,” Martins said.Rodrigues said the department plans an app to track the number of people on each casino vessel in real time. A dedicated firefighting tug and water ambulance have also been proposed.
