September 08, 2008

India to investigate mystery of MV Rezzak disappearance

It is reported that Indian shipping ministry has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation to get to the bottom of the ongoing probe in the case of missing MV Rezzak by contacting its counterparts in Turkey, Russia and Panama.

Mr TR Baalu union minister of shipping, road transport & highways said that "We wrote to CBI in the wake of receiving petitions from the missing crew's family members who suspected that the ship had been hijacked. CBI, in turn, has been in touch with other agencies to find out the truth. An officer from the directorate general of shipping has been sent to Turkey and Russia to participate in the investigation along with those from Panama. His report is awaited."

The need to involve CBI was felt in wake of conflicting reports ranging from hijacking of the ship to suspected maritime fraud reaching the ministry. Though initial reports suggested that the vessel had sunk due to a technical fault, the government has refrained from jumping to any conclusion till the completion of the simultaneous probes launched in Turkey, Russia and Panama.

MV Rezzak, registered in Panama, had mysteriously disappeared on February 18th 2008, approximately 90 miles from the Turkish coast, after having sailed from Novorossisk, the previous day. The ship was carrying steel billets.