Hit and run case: CG intercepts Panamian vessel, probe begins

Coast Guard, police and mercantile marine department today launched a joint investigation into the incident that took place yesterday.

MV Izumo, owned by Tokyo-based NYK Hinode Line Ltd, is now anchored off Kochi waters. It was intercepted 10 to 12 nautical miles off Kochi late last night by Coast Guard.

The three fishermen of country boat 'Al Ameen' which sank after the collision are expected to arrive here later this evening and will identify the vessel tomorrow.

"The Singapore-bound vessel from Kandla carrying soyabeans did not stop after the collision and continued its journey. Within five hours, it was intercepted off Kochi by Coast Guard and asked to anchor off the city, thanks to quick response of fishermen who immediately informed Coast Guard authorities," Satish Chandran, DIG, Commander of Indian Coastguard (Kerala and Mahe), said.

The Panamian vessel has a 21-member crew. 19 of them are Chinese and one each from Myanmar and Taiwan.

Chandran told reporters at the CG headquarters at nearby Fort Kochi that the AL Ameen crew waved flags on seeing the ship approach but it was apparently not noticed, following which they jumped into the sea.

Under the impact of the collision, the boat broke into two and sank. The crew were rescued by another boat nearby. "The collision occurred about 18 nautical miles west of Beypore at around 3.50 PM yesterday," he said

Immediately after the incident, the crew called up the Coast Guard headquarters at Beypore which then contacted the Coast Guard headquarters here. "They also took mobile shots of the vessel and passed it to the authorities, which helped confirm MV Izumo as the defaulting vessel," he said.

Following the collision, an FIR was registered at Chaliyam in Kozhikode. (More)