Orissa begins probe into cargo ship mishap

BHUBANESWAR - Orissa has begun probing the Sep 9 cargo ship mishap near Paradip port in which one crew member was killed, officials said Thursday.

The ship, Black Rose, carrying around 25,000 tonnes of iron ore and over 900 tonnes of oil had capsized off the coast near the harbour area of the port.

The local marine police, who were earlier probing the incident, handed over the case to the state crime branch police Wednesday as the level and intensity of the crime appears to be bigger, a senior state police official told IANS.

The state crime branch has constituted a five member special investigation team, which will be led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Crime branch) Santosh Kumar Patnaik, he said.

The vessel was operating under the Mongolian flag. Of the total 27 crew members, 26 were rescued within three hours. However, the body of a Ukrainian engineer was recovered 10 days later.

Local marine police registered a criminal case and had launched a probe after the port authorities found that the insurance certificate provided to the port by the ship officials was forged.