2 fishermen killed, 1 missing as foreign cargo ship hits boat off Kochi coast

The ship “Amber” has been detained along with its crew after a massive search by the Navy and Coast Guard off Kochi coast.

Two fishermen were killed and one missing after their fishing boat was hit by a cargo ship from Panama off Kochi coast on Sunday morning. There were 14 people in the boat when it capsised after the collision but 11 persons managed to escape.

The boat carrying 14 fishermen was hit by the ship at around 2am around 20 nautical miles off Kochi coast. (AP File Photo)

The ship “Amber”, which left the scene after the incident, has been detained along with its crew after a massive search by the Navy and Coast Guard, inspector general of police (Ernakulam Range) P Vijayan told PTI.

“We have dispatched a team to take custody of the crew. The ship is berthed around eight nautical miles away from the port,” said Kochi police commissioner MB Dinesh. Bodies of two fishermen were recovered and efforts were on to locate the missing, he said.

State fisheries minister Mercykutty Amma said the government would seek the help of navy to avert such accidents. “We will get a clear picture only after questioning the crew. We are on touch with navy and shipping ministry officials. We will seek the navy help to avert such collisions,” she said.

This is the second fatal incident involving a foreign ship in the sea off Kerala coast.

Earlier in February 2012, two fishermen were shot dead allegedly by Italian marines on-board an oil tanker Enrica Lexie.

(With PTI inputs)