Kerala High Court today ordered arrest of bulk carrier MV Miletus, involved in a collision with a fishing vessel off Kochi-Alapuzha coast early this month and is presently anchored at Bhavnagar in Gujarat, by invoking its Admiralty Jurisdiction.
The order was issued by Justice B Kemal Pasha on a petition by the Jagesh of Kollam, owner of the fishing boat, F B Kairali, seeking compensation of Rs 30 lakh alleging that the boat was completely damaged in the June 2 incident.
There were nine fishermen on board of the boat, but none of them were injured.
The incident took place 10 nautical miles off Alapuzha-Kochi coast when the the ship, with the flag of Marshal Islands, was carrying cargo for Bhavnagar.
The court directed the Director General of Shipping, Mumbai, Coast Guard and port authorities to effect the arrest of the vessel immediately.
The bulk carrier crew informed the coast guard, which intercepted the vessel, that the boat had sustained some damage but there was no casualty.
Captain of the bulk carrier, Sajan K Leon, an Indian, admitted to coast guard that the mishap occurred when the ship's anchor 'rubbed off' the fishing boat. The incident had been recorded in their log book also.
The master had also informed about the accident to the owners.
Coastguard had further forwarded owner details to Coastal police at Neendakara for further action, a coast guard press release said today.
