'Piracy attack' against barge operator at Cochin port

Police says that a case is registered and investigation is going on

Cargo movement to Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) has been stalled for the last seven days as Lots Shipping, a Kochi-based barge operator, had stopped service. The company cited ‘piracy attack’ on  its barge last Thursday inside the Cochin Port limits as a reason for this.

Though the company had sought police protection, it has not been provided yet due to technical reasons.  “As  there is no other way, we have stopped our operations. We will re-start the service only if protection to our  barge is given,” a senior company official said.

He alleged that the police had so far not taken serious action against the culprits in spite of their complaint. However, the police said a case had been registered and investigation was on.

Lots barges ply on contract with FACT  for  transportation of rock phosphate, sulphur and phosphoric acid from Cochin port to the latter’s Udyogamandal division and  Cochin division at  Ambalamugal.

Lots officials alleged a section of the workers, who was retrenched by the company, was behind the attack.

The company has hired a barge,  M V Kohenoor, from JMD Shipping Service,  Goa, for transporting  materials to FACT.  The owners had  given the vessel with the crew  as they were unwilling to use local crew.

While returning to the port from Udyogamandal,  a  group of people came alongside MV Kohenoor in two country boats and eight people forcibly boarded the vessel.  They roughed up the crew, including the owners and company’s representatives, and commandeered the vessel in an open act of piracy, the company said.

Later,  they brought the vessel to Bolghatty jetty. Currently, the vessel is stationed at Bolghatty terminal and is under the wrongful custody of the culprits and their henchmen, the company said.