The Bombay High Court has permitted the removal of three vessels from the Arabian Sea to the Alang ship-breaking yard in Gujarat, a day after releasing 50 crew members who had been stranded for nearly three months. The ships were detained due to illegal fuel and bitumen transfers, with concerns raised about security threats and maritime obstructions. The vessels, intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard in February, were accused of smuggling Iranian bitumen while evading detection by turning off their location systems.
During the hearing, a bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar addressed petitions from the ship owners, who sought the release of their vessels amid ongoing police investigations. The court noted that another bench had previously ordered the release of the crew, emphasizing the importance of their well-being. The petitioners claimed the ships were valued at approximately Rs 65 crore, but the Coast Guard’s representative disputed this, asserting that each vessel should be valued around Rs 350 crore.
The court acknowledged the potential hazards of leaving unmanned ships at sea and agreed to allow their movement to Alang, where they would remain under Coast Guard jurisdiction. The bench indicated that discussions regarding valuation and security deposits could take place at a later date, with further hearings scheduled for May 18.
