Missing ship returns to port

According to S K Kotak, officer in-charge of Vadinar port, the ship contacted its daughter-vessel, named Chatterjee, at about 8 am and soon returned to the port. The ship had never gone out of Indian waters, he said.

After his return, the ship8217;s master told port officials that the ship had undergone major repairs recently. Therefore, after the servicing of the engine at Vadinar, he decided to go for a trial-run.

Kotak said that the ship had not committed any offence at the port as it had paid the port-charges and completed all formalities. However, the customs laws required the ship to take permission before leaving the port, he said.

Curiously, Avanish Palia of J M Baksi Charter in Jamnagar, who were to offload the cargo, said the ship had drifted in the sea towards Okha. When pointed out that the ship8217;s master had given out a different story, Palia said company officials were in Vadinar to look into the matter.