MV Amber log book, documents to be seized

Kochi: Kerala High Court has directed the director general of shipping (DGS) to take custody of the original official log book, voyage data recorder and other relevant documents onboard the foreign carrier MV Amber L which collided with a fishing boat killing two fishermen off Kochi coast. The court issued the order on the petition filed by Sujatha, wife of one of them, Antony John. One had also gone missing and 11 others injured when the Panama-flagged cargo ship allegedly hit the fishing boat on Sunday. According to the petitioner, the documents and technical details are very much needed for the adjudication of the cases. There may be chances to tamper the evidence and loss of electronic data.

The court also asked the authorities to seize original log abstract book, night order book and bell book containing entries for the date on which the incident happened, original of GPS chart, GPS logbook and navigation chart for the voyage. The Union government meanwhile submitted that foreign vessel is presently anchored at Kochi Port and has been detained within its limits with the assistance of the police and port authorities. Later, a Coast Guard ship with a police team was deployed for carrying out the investigation of the navigation records of the merchant ship as well as other evidence pointing to her involvement in the collision. It informed the court that the investigation by DGS and other agencies were progressing.