Navigation documents seized from ship: MMD

Collision with boat off Kochi coast

The Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) on Friday informed the Kerala High Court that the documents containing entries on June 11 had been taken into custody from the foreign cargo vessel mv Amber L that was involved in a collision with a fishing boat off the Kochi coast.

The documents included the original official log books, voyage data recorder, original GPS log, and navigation chart.

In a statement filed before the court, the MMD said the voyage data recorder (without memory card) had been retained on board the ship after sealing it as it was not technically feasible to physically remove the equipment.

However, the memory card had been taken off for investigation and was under its safe custody. Besides, all the documents recovered from the vessel had been handed over to the investigation officer of the State Coastal Police in compliance with an High Court directive.

The statement dismissed as baseless the allegation that the officials of the Director General, Shipping, was not cooperating with the probe by the coastal police into the accident.

Dept’s support

The department was extending all support to the State police for carrying out effective investigation in the case. The police had not complained about lack of cooperation from the department.

The vessel was at present anchored within the limits of the Cochin Port because of the High Court order to detain the ship, it said.