The Yellow Gate police officials arrested the captain and chief engineer of MV Rak, which sank off the city coast about two days ago.
The Yellow Gate police officials arrested the captain and chief engineer of MV Rak, which sank off the city coast about two days ago, Saturday. The accused were charged with negligence and endangering the lives of others under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The duo was later released on bail at a bond of Rs25,000 each. The accused have been identified as Arkan Abdul Khalil, 36, and Ioneseu Ion, 54. While Khalil is a Jordanian national, Ion is a Romanion.
MV Rak — the coal-laden ship carrying 30 crew members — was on its way from Indonesia to Dahej in Gujarat when it developed some problem, forcing the captain to send an SOS call. The crew members were rescued by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard team in a major operation, but the vessel sunk.
Police officials investigating the case said that the arrested accused were negligent, which caused the vessel to sink, endangering the life of those on board. Although there were rumours of oil spillage in the sea due to the sinking, coast guard officials have categorically denied it, saying the oil spillage is negligible and not likely to have any impact on the environment. Plus the area has been neutralised, the officials said.
However, the fishing community is apprehensive about the coast guard’s claim.
As Damodar Tandel, president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti said, “We suspect that the coal and the oil from the sunken ship will reach shores within a couple of days.” According to the available information, MV Rak was carrying over 60,000 tonnes of coal, 290 tonnes of fuel oil and over 50 tonnes of diesel.
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