Mercantile Marine Departments Inspects MV Amber L

KOCHI:
The collision incident of Indian Fishing Vessel Carmel Matha, reportedly with a merchant ship, off Kochi, on 12.06.2017 leading to the death of two Indian fishermen is an unfortunate incident and the Directorate General of Shipping, Govt of India, expresses its deepest condolence to the families of the deceased.
As part of the statutory inquiry under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, into the captioned marine casualty, Inquiry Officers of the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) inspected the Panama Flag Bulk carrier, MV AMBER L, IMO No.9200354, suspected to have involved in the incident, on 12.06.2017 from 1100 Hrs to 2300Hrs.
Officials from the Kerala State Coastal Police, Indian Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration and Cochin Port Trust were also present during the inspection. A representative from the P&I Club and a lawyer representing the owners of the ship were also present on the ship, in addition to the crewmembers.
The High Court of Kerala, in WP (C) No.19456 of 2017 had directed the Director General of Shipping / Mercantile Marine Department, on 12.06.2017 to take safe custody of the following documents from the vessel Amber L :- (1) Original Official Log Book (2) Voyage Data Recorder (3) Original Log Abstract, Night Order Book and Bell Book (4) Original GPS Log & Navigation Chart for the voyage.
As per the above directions of the High Court of Kerala, all the documents specified therein have been taken into safe custody by the officers of this Department, in the presence of officials from the Coastal Police, Indian Coast Guard and lawyers representing the owners of the vessel.
Further scrutiny of these documents for the purpose of Inquiry will be undertaken by the Investigating officers, after obtaining necessary concurrence in this regard from the High Court of Kerala.