The detained merchant vessel MT Solis, anchored off Vizhinjam International Port in connection with a recent collision involving a fishing boat, was urgently refuelled after reporting a critical fuel shortage.

The ship's captain sent an emergency communication to the directorate general (DG) of shipping, following which Kerala Maritime Board and Vizhinjam port authorities intervened. As an interim measure, around 1,000 litres of fuel were supplied to the vessel on Saturday to maintain essential onboard operations.

Officials said a larger consignment of approximately 1.2 lakh litres of fuel is expected to arrive from Kochi on Sunday, which will stabilize the vessel's immediate requirements while it remains under detention.

The vessel has been barred from leaving port limits under orders issued by the mercantile marine department, Kochi. Authorities have directed that the ship must not proceed to sea or exit Vizhinjam without prior permission, as it is required for ongoing investigation and evidence collection. Officials noted that releasing the vessel at this stage could adversely affect the probe.

The detention follows a collision between MT Solis and fishing boat IFB St Joseph on March 7, about 56.7 nautical miles off the coast of Nagercoil. The fishing vessel sustained severe damage in the incident. While nine crew members were rescued, two fishermen, Laxman (45) and his son Badal (23), both natives of Kolkata, remain missing.

The Panama-flagged vessel was en route from Oman to Colombo at the time of the incident.

Source: ET Infra. Com 

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