Coastal police yet to reach location of ship wreck

Even four days after a ship wreck off Kochi, the coastal police are not able to reach the location for want of a seaworthy boat of their own.

According to coastal police officials in Fort Kochi, they are not equipped with proper facilities to reach the location which is 12 nautical miles off Kochi and 6.5 nautical miles off Munambam coast.

The coastal police Fort Kochi unit has just two small-sized speed boats which can travel up to maximum 8 nautical miles from the shore.

“The sea is rough these days after the onset of monsoon and we lack a proper boat to reach the spot. We made an attempt on Thursday also but failed”, a coastal police official said. It may be recalled that ‘Express’ had earlier reported about the ill-equipped coastal police.

MV Sea Angel, a 70-metre- long Maldivian vessel, which was being towed, sank off Munambam harbour on Sunday, reportedly, due to rough seas.

The ship was being towed by another Maldivian ship MV Morning Star for delivery to Steel Industries Limited Kerala (SILK) breaking yard at Azhikkal in Kannur.

Though, they could not reach the location, the coastal police, as intimated by the Indian Coast Guard had registered a case against the master of the Maldivian vessel on charges of negligent navigation under IPC Section 280.

“We have contacted the agents of the vessel in Tuticorin, and asked them to produce the documents of the vessels. We expect them to reach Kochi on Friday,” police officials said.