At present, the ship is still waiting at the Sandheads and is expected to dock at Hadia on Monday evening.

The ship, MV Fani, carrying 12,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had sailed from Muugu in Estonia and was bound for Indian Explosives Limited’s Gomia plant in Jharkand. Trouble erupted last week when the local police, which had earlier given an NOC to the company over bringing the explosives to the dock, withdrew it.

A Majumdar, Acting-Chairman of the Kolkata Port Trust, said on Sunday: “The problems between the police and the company have been sorted out. We have heard the company has declared that they will follow all prescribed guidelines for storing and transporting materials.”

One of the reasons for the tussle had been the company’s refusal to follow the guidelines prescribed by the Home Ministry to import explosives. According to sources, materials were stored in open godowns in the highway and transported in open trucks to the plant. This had allegedly led to pilfering of the materials.

Sources at the port, however, said a section of employees is reportedly unhappy over the police flip-flop on the issue. “The question still remains why the police had given the NOC, then withdrawn it and then again approved the clearance,” said an employee of Haldia dock.

East Midnapore District Magistrate Choten D Lama, meanwhile, had asked the SP for a report into the matter. “I believe the company has given an undertaking on following the precautionary measures. I am not yet aware why the police changed their stand and have asked for a report,” she said.