The Hindu : National : Detention of two Indian officers causes concern

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Sunday, Jul 27, 2008
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National

Detention of two Indian officers causes concern

Santosh Patnaik

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two Indian officers of a Hong Kong-owned merchant ship are under detention in South Korea for violation of ocean pollution law despite their acquittal by a court, creating serious concern among international shipping associations.

Captain Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan of Hebei Sprit, a very large crude carrier, were detained after a passing crane carrying a tug struck it while on anchorage after due permissions on December 7, 2007.

Daejeon District Court located in South Chungcheong province recently cleared the accused of all charges following which a roundtable of international shipping associations appealed to the authorities to release them immediately.

BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Shipping Federation (ISF), INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the International Group of P and I Clubs (IG), and the Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association expressed their ‘surprise, disappointment and great concern’ at the news that Korea’s courts have determined to continue to detain the ship’s officers, despite their acquittal, for possibly as long a year pending further hearings.

Such measures appear to be unjustified, unreasonable and in contravention of the seafarers’ rights, they said and demanded their release from South Korea.

“The two seafarers are in detention from December 7 and the arrest of their freedom will further cause mental agony to them as well as their family members and the entire shipping community,” ITF Inspector B.V. Ratnam said.

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