Sri Lanka from times immemorial has been renowned for its geo-strategic location in the silk route. Every day, more than 2000 ships pass Sri Lanka from East to West Vice versa carrying different types of cargo to different destinations.
Therefore, vessels in distress or marine emergencies are nothing new to the waters of Sri Lanka. However, the successful management of a marine emergency depends on excellence in technology, swift attendance to the task and above all, a nonchalant temperament that beats the thunderous waves of the ocean.
With the Xpress Pearl marine catastrophe at the backdrop, I met an interesting personality whose pseudonym “Yaka Mahattaya” was being circulated virally in social media regarding marine salvage. Soon after meeting him, I realised the void of such people in Sri Lanka’s maritime industry and how people of his caliber could have been used to develop Sri Lanka’s maritime industry.
A CEO in rags
It was 7 in the morning when I reached the gate of The Divers Underwater Service in Galle. My interviewee whose pseudonym translated as Mr. Demon emphasised my punctuality. “Sharp at 7am, not a minute more or less please” he spoke with authority. When I entered through the gate into a garden full of heavy ship anchors and ship spares, I soon realised that he was living up to his name. As I rang the doorbell, a middle aged man with a bold head clad in a greasy trouser and shirt appeared wishing me a good morning. I introduced myself and asked for Chatura Kudachchi, the CEO of The Divers Underwater Service.
I was astonished when he introduced himself as Chatura, the saviour of the high seas and of whom I had a very elevated and professional image. “Too Dirty or Too Small?” He questioned me with an amiable chuckle as I was still trying to decipher whether this was a prank or not. Coming from a rather corporate background myself, he did not fit into the criteria of an internationally recognised salvage master who was dealing with international maritime emergencies.
“I know, it’s the same question that many maritime professionals had when I undertook Asia’s Largest Salvage inside the Port of Galle in 2005. I am not the tux-wearing CEO with 5 degrees in Shipping. But being with engines, mechanics, welders or skilled professionals in general since childhood, I know what to do and when,” Saying thus, Chatura handed me a scrapbook full of photos which demonstrated from beginning to the end, a rigorous maritime operation that cleared the mouth of the Galle Port in 2005, which was obstructed by a wrecked Netherlands Barge named “Scorpio Brisbane”.
In none of the photos was Chatura doing a white collar duty. He was always found to be welding, cutting and lifting both above and below the waterline. On a video panel fixed onto a wall of the office, underwater footage of various underwater operations conducted by Chatura’s team were in full display. According to Chatura, The Divers Underwater Service is one of the few companies in Sri Lanka that provide underwater services to commercial ships that sail pass or call Sri Lanka.
These include hull cleaning, propeller polishing, underwater inspections and underwater repairs. “A ship is usually compared to a female in a marital relationship who has a number of needs. This is why services to ships are called Ship-husbandry services”. This piece of knowledge cleared my long lasting doubts regarding the female identity of ships.
After a great cup of coffee, I posed him the much awaited question regarding his nickname Yaka Mahattaya. Smiles and chuckles never left his face proving his jovial personality. “I think it comes from the way I operate in the field. Rowdy yet surprisingly successful in the end. I don’t really know, but this is what countless master mariners, ship owners, managers and shipping agents say,” said Chatura handing me more albums of his maritime adventures.
There were all kinds of seagoing vessels including yachts and super yachts that obtained Chatura’s services. Among them was an album named “MV Star Angie – 2020 to which he referred as one miraculous victory. “During a maritime disaster nobody requests for certifications and elaborate company profiles. They simple want a skilled team that can rescue the vessel to continue the voyage” added Chatura before unveiling the details of the Star Angie operation.
Chatura’s eyes lit with jubilation when he was talking about this adventure. “Star Angie was sailing from Singapore to the West Coast of India with 190 000 metric tons of coal in laden condition. A damage to the stern tube resulted in a massive water leakage into the engines and this was making way for an incalculable disaster. We made an initial inspection and got to work immediately. A temporary repair was made using underwater welding to facilitate navigation and the complete repair was done in Trincomalee after transferring the coal of the ship to another vessel”. Throughout this mind blowing revelation, I only had one question; how come we never knew of this incident?
He revealed more daring salvage missions including Motor Tanker “Teresa Atlantic” which was carrying 43,000 metric tons of Crude Oil and Gas Tanker “Gas Master” which was carrying Liquid Nitrogen.
The highlight of each operation was Chatura’s team which he calls an “A-Team”. “We have a complete team of skilled underwater professionals and also a very talented media team who in unison provide a seamless service to the principals in distress,” said Chatura, pointing to a team photograph on the wall. A happy and lucky team for sure, I thought, for they must indeed be privileged to work with a great leader like Chatura.
Message from the master
Time flew and not a moment was boring inside The Divers’ headquarters. Talking to Chatura was like talking to a maritime professional from the Renaissance who challenged the challenges of the ocean. When I asked him about the Xpress Pearl tragedy, he had an emotional answer. “If someone harms the sea intentionally or unintentionally, it is best to be ready for the repercussions. The wrath of Poseidon is never slight” These were words of wisdom that came from years of experience living with the ocean and understanding its pulse.
Before waving good-bye, the hearty mariner did not forget to express his consent to train youngsters into underwater professionals. “As much as I have done over the past, I am ready to train the youth of this country and help them obtain the maximum benefits from the sea – the lifeline of Sri Lanka.”