How different things work
The 9,000-tonne vessel MV Wisdom, which has partially settled on the shallow
seabed, must be made to float again. This is best accomplished when the
tide is in. After it is fully afloat, another tug will tow it back to
Alang.
MV Wisdom
HOW THINGS WORK
Tale of Wisdom
The first efforts to salvage the MV Wisdom failed. As the ship was being towed to the Alang shipbreaking yard in stormy weather, the cables that connected it with the tug snapped. The ship drifted from its course, and ran aground at Mumbai's Juhu beach. For three days, salvage workers tried to refloat it, with little success. They will try again shortly. The salvaging operation is a highly-specialised one.
What needs to be done: The 9,000-tonne vessel, which has partially settled on the shallow seabed, must be made to float again. This is best accomplished when the tide is in. After it is fully afloat, another tug will tow it back to Alang.
What must be kept in mind: Now that the monsoon has arrived, it is necessary to watch both weather conditions and the choppiness of the sea. The towing exercise must be timed right.
Key requirements: Strong ropes and cables are crucial. A global salvaging company called SMIT has been engaged. The Navy and other government agencies are also helping the effort.
JUST WONDERING
Take-off delayed
Spanking new state-of-the-art airport terminals have already opened in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. But Chennai is a different story. In June 2008, the Centre allocated `1,808 crore to build a second terminal at its Meenambakkam airport, as well as extend the runway to enable the Airbus A380, largest aircraft in the world, to land and take-off. The second terminal will increase the airport's passenger capacity from six million a year to 14 million. Three years on, the project is only three-fourths complete. Besides, costs have risen. The total expenditure is now estimated at `2,015 crore. Insiders at the Airport Authority of India, or AAI, say completion is at least another six months away - provided the AAI gets approval for the additional funds it needs.
QUIRKY
Chances cut off
Even the prestigious IIMs and IITs give aspirants a better chance of admission than some undergraduate colleges. A student only needs to pass the high school examination to qualify for the IIT Joint Entrance Exam. The minimum qualifi cation for the Common Admission Test for the IIM is a bachelor's degree with 50 per cent marks. And the cut-off this year for students who did not take commerce in school, to get into the B.Com course at Sri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi? One hundred per cent! Since no student scored that much - though many came tantalisingly close - it meant that students from non-commerce streams had no chance of getting into the college at all.
SNOOT CORNER
Pocket that
Exclusivity is best displayed in subtle ways. Investing in a classy wallet is one of the best ways to fl aunt opulence. High-end wallets are small, smart, functional and an extremely chic buy. Single-coloured ones with a clean fi nish make a safe choice. Though leather wallets have always been popular, suede ones are good accessories for celebratory evenings. Choose a wallet whose logo is of the same colour as the background, rather than one whose logo is in loud contrast and screaming for attention.
Compiled by Anamika Butalia
Tale of Wisdom
The first efforts to salvage the MV Wisdom failed. As the ship was being towed to the Alang shipbreaking yard in stormy weather, the cables that connected it with the tug snapped. The ship drifted from its course, and ran aground at Mumbai's Juhu beach. For three days, salvage workers tried to refloat it, with little success. They will try again shortly. The salvaging operation is a highly-specialised one.
What needs to be done: The 9,000-tonne vessel, which has partially settled on the shallow seabed, must be made to float again. This is best accomplished when the tide is in. After it is fully afloat, another tug will tow it back to Alang.
What must be kept in mind: Now that the monsoon has arrived, it is necessary to watch both weather conditions and the choppiness of the sea. The towing exercise must be timed right.
Key requirements: Strong ropes and cables are crucial. A global salvaging company called SMIT has been engaged. The Navy and other government agencies are also helping the effort.
JUST WONDERING
Take-off delayed
Spanking new state-of-the-art airport terminals have already opened in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. But Chennai is a different story. In June 2008, the Centre allocated `1,808 crore to build a second terminal at its Meenambakkam airport, as well as extend the runway to enable the Airbus A380, largest aircraft in the world, to land and take-off. The second terminal will increase the airport's passenger capacity from six million a year to 14 million. Three years on, the project is only three-fourths complete. Besides, costs have risen. The total expenditure is now estimated at `2,015 crore. Insiders at the Airport Authority of India, or AAI, say completion is at least another six months away - provided the AAI gets approval for the additional funds it needs.
QUIRKY
Chances cut off
Even the prestigious IIMs and IITs give aspirants a better chance of admission than some undergraduate colleges. A student only needs to pass the high school examination to qualify for the IIT Joint Entrance Exam. The minimum qualifi cation for the Common Admission Test for the IIM is a bachelor's degree with 50 per cent marks. And the cut-off this year for students who did not take commerce in school, to get into the B.Com course at Sri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi? One hundred per cent! Since no student scored that much - though many came tantalisingly close - it meant that students from non-commerce streams had no chance of getting into the college at all.
SNOOT CORNER
Pocket that
Exclusivity is best displayed in subtle ways. Investing in a classy wallet is one of the best ways to fl aunt opulence. High-end wallets are small, smart, functional and an extremely chic buy. Single-coloured ones with a clean fi nish make a safe choice. Though leather wallets have always been popular, suede ones are good accessories for celebratory evenings. Choose a wallet whose logo is of the same colour as the background, rather than one whose logo is in loud contrast and screaming for attention.
Compiled by Anamika Butalia
