Date:25/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/25/stories/2008092557280500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

2 Indian marine officers held in South Korea

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Two Indian marine officers have been detained in South Korea, according to Captain K. Vivekanand, Director, Maritime Studies, Vels University.

Though their families have been allowed to meet them, they cannot leave the country till a hearing scheduled for November.

Recounting the incident, he said an Indian ship containing 260 thousand tonnes of crude oil was anchored off the coast of South Korea on December 7, 2007. A crane, hauled by two tugboats, came dangerously close. As the captain of the Indian ship alerted the crane, the tugboats moved away. As they were changing course, the crane broke free, owing to the rough weather, and fell on the Indian ship. The anchored ship could not move in time, and within hours, 12,000 tonnes of crude oil spilled into the sea. The captain and chief officer of the Indian ship were arrested. Along with them, those taking care of the crane and the tugboats were arrested.

A lower court found the captain and chief officer innocent, but an appeal has been filed in a higher court, Mr. Vivekanand said. The Indian Government is working to secure their release.

There are also cases of Indian officers being held illegally in other countries, said P. Misra, Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department. Indians working for registered Indian shipping firms can be tracked, but there is no list of Indians working for foreign companies. When cases involving such persons occur, they go unnoticed.

The International Maritime Organisation helps in such cases, Mr. Misra said. The organisation, based in London, drafts rules and regulations for shipping all over the world.