MT ORANGE VICTORIA

United Kingdom-flagged Japanese-owned product tanker ORANGE VICTORIA is under investigation at Kochi Port, India, suspect in hit and run accident in waters off Kochi. The ship while en route from Singapore to Indian port, presumably struck fiberglass fishing boat 46 nm off Kochi at night Mar 18. boat was damaged, all six crew safe. Hull paint samples are taken, to conduct lab analysis. Tanker’s 23 crew consist mostly, of Indian nationalities, including Captain, who already said, that they were unaware of any collision or contact, and most likely, that was the case. It’s almost impossible to detect a small fiberglass boat at night time, and radar is not of much help, either.