Discover the Solis: Ratings & Maritime News

Authorities have finalized their inspections of the cargo vessel 'Solis', which was detained following its collision with the trawler 'St Joseph' while anchored for fishing activities in deep waters. The ship was taken from the accident location, approximately 57 nautical miles off the coast of Muttom harbour in Tamil Nadu, and transported to Vizhinjam. The Director General of Shipping (DG Shipping) issued a directive to the captain, prohibiting any departure from the country without prior authorization. The Coast Guard vessel 'Anagh' provided escort during the vessel's journey to Vizhinjam. Chief Surveyor Captain Shenoy, supported by a team from the Mercantile Marine Department, conducted a comprehensive assessment of the 'Solis'. Their inspection involved scrutinizing the vessel's stern and bow areas, with significant findings indicating that the paint had completely eroded in the impacted zones, signaling the collision's severity. Additionally, investigators have reviewed the CCTV footage installed on the vessel as part of their inquiry. Prior to the official inspection, representatives from the vessel's operators and insurance officials were present. They provided Captain Shenoy with the confidential access code for the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR). Furthermore, detailed accounts regarding the incident were sought from the 20 crew members aboard, including the ship’s captain. As of March 13, the 'Solis' remained anchored at coordinates 08° 22' N 076° 58' E.

Indian authorities have initiated a significant enforcement action against the captain of the tanker 'Solis', in light of a tragic incident involving the fishing boat 'St. Joseph'. The collision occurred on March 7 at 14:30 LT, as the 'Solis' departed from Neendakara port in Kerala, after arriving from Oman. The tanker was navigating approximately 70 nautical miles off the coast of Vizhinjam when it struck the trawler, which was carrying 11 crew members at the time. Following the accident, the Indian Coast Guard successfully rescued nine fishermen, while two others remain unaccounted for. The impact of the collision resulted in the fishing vessel sinking, with one fisherman suffering a fractured spine and another sustaining serious injuries. In response to these developments, a lawsuit was filed in an Indian court on March 8 against the tanker’s captain, asserting claims of dangerous and careless navigation that jeopardized human lives. On March 9, the Director General of Shipping confirmed that the 'Solis' was taken into custody and escorted to an anchorage off Vizhinjam around midday. A team of officials, including the Chief Surveyor from the Department of Shipping, conducted an initial investigation on board the tanker. On March 10, a second team from the Mercantile Marine Department arrived to carry out a more in-depth inspection and began interviewing the 20 crew members. As of March 12, the 'Solis' was positioned at coordinates 08° 22' N 076° 58' E.

In a serious maritime incident, the Vizhinjam Coastal Police have initiated legal proceedings against the captain of the 'Solis' following a collision with the fishing vessel 'St. Joseph' on March 7 at 1:45 p.m. The accident occurred approximately 57 nautical miles from Muttom Harbour in Kanyakumari, as the 'St. Joseph', with 11 fishermen onboard, was en route for fishing from Neendakara in Kollam towards the Kanyakumari region. The 11 crew members included Vasudev Das (42), Viplav Das (32), Rippon Das (38), Vikram Das (unknown age), Vimal Das (48), Badal Das (23), and Lakhman Das (45), all from West Bengal, as well as Vinod (34), Johnson (47), Benedict (43), and Baiju (38) from Tamil Nadu. Following the collision, nine fishermen were rescued, although several sustained injuries. Notably, Baiju (38), the boat's skipper, suffered a spinal injury, while Vimal Das (48) experienced severe injuries. Tragically, two fishermen, Badal Das and Lakhman Das, are currently missing. A complainant, Rajesh Mathew, reported that the collision resulted in significant damage, with an estimated financial loss of around ₹1.5 crore due to the sinking of the boat. The police have filed charges under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 282 for negligent navigation, section 125(a) for endangering human life, and section 324 for causing wrongful loss or damage to property. As the collision occurred within Tamil Nadu's waters, the case will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities in that state for further investigation. On March 9 at around noon, officials from the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) took the 'Solis' into custody, transporting it to the outer seas off Vizhinjam. A team led by the Chief Surveyor of DG Shipping, who arrived from Kochi, conducted an initial survey of the vessel. Additionally, inspectors from the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) of Mumbai arrived on March 10 for a comprehensive examination. Preliminary reports suggest that the collision happened near an international shipping lane, prompting the collection of statements from the 20 crew members, including the captain. For more details, refer to the original report [here](https://english.mathrubhumi.com/amp/news/kerala/panama-ship-that-rammed-fishing-boat-off-kerala-coast-taken-into-custody-brought-to-vizhinjam-l5yzeh9t).