‘Inquire rescued seafarers on ship fire accident’

‘Inquire rescued seafarers on ship fire accident’
March 18, 2019 https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/inquire-rescued-seafarers-o...

6 were killed, 6 others were missing in the accident that took place off Russian coast

MADURAI

Continuing its hearing in the case of missing Indian seafarers, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday asked the Centre to file a report on the Indian seafarers rescued in the fire accident and whether they were inquired by the authorities about the incident.

A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S. S. Sundar directed the Ministry of External Affairs to file a report on whether an inquiry on the rescued Indian seafarers was conducted. The court also sought a report on whether the shipping company that had engaged them had offered compensation to the seafarers.

Earlier, the Ministry had informed the court that fire on both the fuel ships were put out and steps were being taken to bring the ships ashore. The Ministry, further in its communication said that it was in touch with Russian authorities to ascertain the whereabouts of the seafarers.

The court adjourned the hearing till March 27. It was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by R. Sahaya Vinoth of Kanniyakumari, who sought a direction to trace and rescue his friend Sebastian Britto Breezlin Sahayaraj and Avinash, both from Kanniyakumari, who went missing following the fire accident.

Earlier this year, two fuel ships, an oil tanker and a liquefied natural gas carrier, went ablaze while transferring fuel in the Kerch Strait off Russian coast. At least six Indians were killed in the incident. An equal number of Indians went missin