CHENNAI: Chennai Port Trust’s (ChPT) former chairman K Suresh landed in the CBI net mainly because he allegedly allowed a ‘dead’ ship, MV San Giorgio, carrying 12,800 cubic metres of expensive teak worth over Rs 10 crore, to dock in the harbour, causing a loss of Rs 20 crore to the port.
According to the CBI, Suresh along with then deputy chairman of ChPT G J Rao and ChPT deputy conservator M K Sinha abused their positions and allotted a berth in the Chennai Port to MV San Giorgio, despite knowing it did not have valid documents; its licenses had expired; and had no crew. It was carrying cargo of Singapore-based Olam International Limited from the Overndo Port, West Africa to Tuticorin Port. It was actually towed in as it had developed a snag mid-way. With the Tuticorin Port refusing permission citing its unseaworthy condition, it was towed into Chennai Port and berthed at WQ1 bay on April 17, 2007. The ship was expected to deliver the cargo at Tuticorin but its original owners, Sandele Navigation Corporation, sold it to Exclusive Marine Inc midway. So, the cargo owners towed it to Port Victoria, Seychelles, where a dispute broke out between the crew and the ship owners, who also got into a legal tangle with the financier bank, which obtained an order of attachment from. But Olam International filed an intervening application. Over three-and-a-half years later, it’s still at Chennai Port.