Cargo vessel rams into Kerala fishing boat, crew being quizzed

The crew of a Panama-flagged cargo vessel that allegedly rammed into and severely damaged a fishing boat off the Kozhikode coast on Wednesday was being questioned after the ship was tracked down by the Coast Guard, officials said.

A Coast Guard officer said Thursday the vessel was carrying a consignment of soyabean to Japan. It had last berthed at Kandla port in Gujarat.

"We used our Dornier aircraft to zero down on the vessel and our officers are now speaking with the crew of the Panama-flagged vessel off the coast here," an officer who did not wish to be identified told IANS.

"The cargo vessel has 21 crew members and has a Chinese captain," the officer added.

The three fishermen on the boat jumped into the sea on seeing the big ship coming towards them.

"The fishing boat was completely damaged and another boat came to the rescue of the fishermen," the Coast Guard officer added.

The three fishermen are being treated for minor injuries at a hospital near Kozhikode.