The Madras High Court passed an order on hearing the petition filed by the owner of the fishing boat that had been badly hit by a cargo vessel 19 nm away from the Colachal harbor, Kanyakumari district.
The collision took place on 22 October, when the fishing boat had 17 crew members on board. All were thrown off and were injured when hit by the container ship MV Navios Venue, while the fishing vessel was completely damaged.
The Indian Coast Guard’s patrol vessel rescued two injured fishermen, who were hospitalized, while the remaining 15 could managed to reach the shore with the help of fishing boats.
Now, the petitioner noted that the container ship was carrying the Panama flag and if it is allowed to set sail beyond the country’s territorial waters, the fishermen will not receive compensation.
He also pleaded to the court to take necessary actions regarding detaining the vessel in the Indian Territory. As a result, Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy directed the Director-General of Shipping, Mumbai port, and the Indian Coast Guard to detain MV Navios Venue at the Mumbai port for three weeks. The court also ordered notice to the respondents and the ship.
