Court in India Orders Sale of Seized Bulker to Cover Fees

The case of a Panama-registered, Vietnamese-owned bulker seized in India due to suspicion of smuggling cocaine has taken an unusual turn. The owners have not paid port fees or posted a bond, leaving the crew stranded for months. One engineer even jumped overboard in frustration. India’s High Court in Orissa ordered the vessel, named Debi, to undergo a court-ordered sale to pay its port fees, as the owner contested the charges.

The incident began in November when the bulker arrived at the port of Paradip in eastern India. Upon inspection, packages of cocaine were found attached to the crane. The crew of 21 Vietnamese members was detained for investigation. The vessel was later released in February, but the owners were required to post a bond and provide a bank guarantee before departure. Various individuals, including crew members and port workers, were investigated for possible involvement in the smuggling scheme.

Despite the court’s orders, the owners failed to make the necessary payments, and the vessel, Debi, remains in Paradip port. The court has now decided to sell the vessel to pay off the outstanding fees. Surveyors have been tasked with assessing the ship’s value for potential trading or scrapping. If the fees are not settled by September 21, the court is expected to proceed with the sale. The status of the crew, who have been stranded on the vessel for nine months, remains unknown.

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