PPT files case against owners of sunken vessel

PARADEEP PORT WOES

The Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) authorities have filed a case against the owner of the sunken vessel Black Rose, its management company and also the Kolkata-based shipping agency Sea Trans Marine Private Limited for submission of fake documents and non-cooperation in retrieving oil from the vessel, which sank near the port a month back.

Pravat Nanda, secretary, PPT lodged an FIR with the marine police station in Paradeep against the Singapore-based Black Rose Maritime Limited, the vessel owner, PANCAR Shipping Limited, the vessel's management company, also based out of Singapore and Sea Trans Marine Private Limited.

Tejraj Patel, the inspector in charge of the marine police station said, police has registered a case against the owner, management company and agency of the sunken vessel on Friday under Sections 419, 467 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code.

Sources said the sunken vessel was without any valid document. Even the insurance papers submitted by the vessel owner were found to be fake.

Nimain Panda, president, Paradeep Port Mazdoor Congress said, “these irregularities have been done with the knowledge of Sea Trans Limited. The ship has no Protection & Indemnity Club certificate and it was only registered under the South England Association in which there is a wreck-removal clause.”

“It was astonishing that that the insurance coverage of the ship was from July 11, 2008 to February 3, 2009. The insurance was not valid when the ship capsized. High percentage of moisture in the loaded cargo of the vessel is one of the causes for the mishap”, he added.