Captain of MSC Chitra gets interim bail

The captain of merchant vessel MSC Chitra, which collided with another cargo ship — MV Khalija III — resulting in oil spill off the Mumbai coast, has blamed the master of Khalija for the accident. While calling Khalija III “unseaworthy”, captain Minguelinho Martin approached a local court on Wednesday, seeking anticipatory bail.
“The court has granted Martin interim bail and has given him time till August 18,” said Rishi Bhuta, Martin’s his lawyer.

After the accident, an FIR was registered against the captain and crew members of both the vessels under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and Environment Act. However, according to Martin, he has been falsely implicated in the case.

Stating that he was an experienced master for about 18 years, Martin reiterated that the master of Khalija III was responsible for the collision. He added that Khalija III had been grounded off Mumbai on July 19, 2009, as it was “unseaworthy”, and was towed to enter Mumbai port in an unsafe condition.

Martin said that his custodial interrogation will serve no purpose as he has been personally supervising the salvage operations at the accident site with experts. His presence at the site, according to Martin, is “extremely vital” as he is familiar with the vessel.

At the time of collision, MSC Chitra was carrying 2,662 tonnes of fuel oil, 283.8 tonnes diesel and 88.040 litres of lube oil, said Martin, adding that the ship’s owners had engaged experts from Singapore and Rotterdam for salvage operations by incurring huge expenses, which ran into crores of rupees.