Licences of 9 ships of Pratibha Shipping company cancelled

The Director General of Shipping has cancelled the licenses of nine ships belonging to Mumbai-based Pratibha Shipping Company for lack of a seaworthy certificate, according to a top official.
"We have cancelled the licences of nine ships of Pratibha Shipping, six of which are in Indian waters... Two are in the Eastern coast, two are off Chennai coast, one in Vishakapatnam and one in Goa.. All the six vessels have been told to pay the wages to sailors", Director General of Shipping Gautam Chatterjee told reporters here.
Pratibha Cauvery, a ship owned by the company, had run aground on October 31, 2012 near here when cyclone 'Nilam' made landfall. Six of its sailors died after the lifeboat in which they were escaping capsized on the way to the shore.

Noting that the showcause notice had been issued to the Mumbai-based company, Chatterjee said if a ship lacks sea- worthy certificate its license can be cancelled. "We stop the vessel from plying and take it for auction. From proceeds of the auction, wages to the sea farers would be given", he said.
Shipping Minister G K Vasan said "we have taken up the issue of salary very seriously. We have warned them (Pratibha Shipping Company) very clearly".
Observing that the issue was in Madras High Court, Vasan said "the Court will take necessary action (in this regard)".
"From the Ministry side, we have followed A to Z on what strict action should be followed. Not only for Pratibha Cauvery. If there are any future incidents, we will take strict action. We want to be very strict in that. We will not allow any ship owner to cross the limit of the powers of the Shipping Ministry", he said.