Kochi: The Kolkata port authorities took charge of the Singapore vessel 'OEL Freedom' from the port on Thursday on the orders of the Madras High Court following a complaint filed by a boat owner alleging a mid-sea collision off the Kochi coast.
The vessel was released after the ship's authorities submitted a bond of Rs 40 lakh before the registrar of the Madras High Court.
The HC asked the Principal Officer of the Mercantile Marine Department of Kolkata to 'urgently exercise port state control over the foreign vessel MV OEL Freedom flying a Singaporean flag and to carry out the inspection required under the Merchant Shipping Act' after the complainant filed a complaint that the vessel was anchored at Kolkata port.
The HC had also ordered the authorities to 'initiate proceedings against the master of the foreign vessel OEL Freedom for causing the accident and not reporting it or providing assistance to the boat.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court directed the Director General of Shipping at Willingdon Island in Kochi to take port state control and measures under the Indian Merchant Shipping Act 1958 and International Maritime Conventions against the suspected vessel on charge of negligently ramming into the fishing boat 11 nautical miles off the Kochi coast.
