__gaTracker('send','pageview');

Indian Coast Guard interdicts Russian cargo vessel trying to escape

 

MUMBAI: After almost 11 hours search operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Agrim commanded by Commandant(JG) Umed Singh’s team interdicted Russian flagged Cargo vessel—MV Sevastopol—110 nautical miles (204 km) that tried to escape on Tuesday. The ship was under order of arrest by the Madras high court and was trying to flee, to circumvent judicial proceedings against the vessel, said the official.

 

The ICG in a sea air coordinated operation interdicted the vessel at 11.45am which was trying to enter UAE and was trying to cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The ship was on 27 km north-west of Mumbai in “Alpha Anchorage” when the Russian Federation Flagged General Cargo Vessel tried to escape.

 

The shipping company was facing a litigation in Madras high court based on the plea filed by M/s NTC Logistics (P) limited, Chennai. The HC had issued an arrest warrant against the vessel on February 13, in a commercial dispute. The information was shared to us on February 15 regarding the arrest notice. The vessel was informed the same during patrolling and through shore based monitoring stations on MMB channel about the arrest order,” the Indian Defence spokesperson told TOI

The vessel was also directed not to proceed without resolving the commercial dispute, as the matter was under litigation. “On Tuesday at about 1am, the vessel picked up her anchor and started getting underway. It was also noticed that the vessel had switched off her automatic identification system (AIS), GMDSS equipment and navigational lights, against provisions of SOLAS convention and collision regulations. We once again directed the vessel to return and comply with the directives of the HC. However there was no response. After extensive search efforts the coast guard ships and the aircraft, the vessel was located at 11.40am,” said the official.

The ship is being escorted back to Mumbai harbour and is likely to arrive on Wednesday.

Please follow and like us:

Leave a comment

Leave a reply