The director-general of shipping has confirmed that the ship involved in Thursday’s boat mishap which killed two fishermen off Alappuzha coast was merchant vessel Prabhu Daya.
“As per the prima facie assessment during the course of investigations, what we have come to point out is that it is MV Prabhu Daya that is involved in the accident,” said the director-general of shipping, Satish Agnihotri, in Mumbai.
A confirmation of the likelihood of Don-1 being involved in the collision has also been given by the Indian Coast Guard. On the two other vessels that were under watch since Thursday, he said their involvement looked unlikely.
MV Prabhu Daya, a Singapore flagged vessel, is currently sailing in the sea off Colombo, and has been made to divert its course to Chennai even as the shipping company insisted it was not involved in the mishap.
“The vessel is expected to reach Chennai by Monday morning. In Chennai, the vessel would be boarded by the preliminary inquiry officer of the mercantile marine department assisted by a Coast Guard officer,” added Agnihotri.
Fishing vessel wreck found: A 10-member Navy clearance diving team from the Southern Naval Command here located on Saturday the wreck of the ship-hit fishing boat, according to Navy officials.
Top mercantile officials said Prabhu Daya was carrying iron ore from Goa, and was bound for Singapore.
A surveyor from the department here would be reaching Chennai on Sunday and would take up the investigation. The probe would involve not just questioning the crew, but also a look at any evidence that can point to the collision.
On the issue of bringing the ship owned by Mumbai-based Tolani Shipping Company to Kochi, the sources said it will be decided only if there was a need for further probe.