Two men have died and one is missing after Panama-flagged bulk carrier Amber L collided with a fishing boat near Cochin Port then sailed off, according to FleetMon.
An Indian fishing boat with 14 on board and the bulk carrier collided in early morning at 2:00 am on June 11, 2017 while 12 nautical miles off from Conchin Port.
Amber L then sailed away with its lights off, leaving the fishermen to swim for their lives, the fishermen said.
India's Navy apprehended the 22 crew members of the bulker and later its Greek captain was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, reported Marine Link.
India's Directorate General of Shipping has ordered a probe into the facts of the incident, including the exact location of the ships, on which penal provisions may depend. Kochi officals plan to board Amber L to collect data from the voice data recorder.
Cochin Port’s operators said Amber L's agent had been directed to ensure the ship conducted a ‘lightering operation’.
A Kochi Port spokesperson said: “A berth which can accommodate the ship is not readily available at Kochi Port. Amber L has 11.5 metres draught depth. It can only berth at a port having 30 metres draught depth.
"We have directed the agent of the ship to commence a Lightering Operation, which is to offload the goods using the crane on the ship and shift the goods to other ships berthed outside the port. By reducing the weight it can cut short the draught depth."