Working Conditions Aboard the Prince-Charming

In a groundbreaking move, the Kerala High Court conducted an unprecedented online session on the evening of January 24, 2022, resulting in the arrest of the tanker 'Ocean Rose', which was moored in the waters of Kochi. The vessel faced seizure after failing to fulfill its financial obligation to a water supplier, sparking an admiralty suit initiated by Grace International Company. The court revealed that the owner of the 'Ocean Rose' owed over ₹2 crores for water supplies to the ship, which had recently docked at Kochi carrying a cargo of sulfur intended for the Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT). Given the urgency of the matter, the Court held the hearing at 11:30 p.m., as the ship was scheduled to depart at 5 a.m. the following morning. The court ordered the Registrar to implement the vessel's seizure, instructing the Deputy Conservator of Cochin Port to facilitate the arrest. To release the vessel, the owners must deposit a sum of ₹2,43,75,000 towards the outstanding payment, including interest and a cost of ₹25,000. Should the vessel not be secured within 15 days or if there is no application to vacate the arrest, authorities will commence the process to auction the ship within a week. The next court hearing on this matter is set for January 27.

On April 14, 2019, a significant operation took place off the South Central Coast of Vietnam, as local law enforcement, with the support of the Coast Guard, apprehended the tanker 'Pioneer Spirit' and the Vietnamese vessel 'QNg 0350' in the Quang Ngai Province. These tankers were caught in the act of conducting an illegal transfer of fuel. The Vietnamese tanker was reportedly set to offload a staggering 8,000 tons of gasoline from the 'Pioneer Spirit' for delivery to Sa Ky port. Notably, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) of the 'Pioneer Spirit' had been inactive since early April, raising suspicions about its operations. Following their interception, both vessels were escorted to the nearest Vietnamese port for further investigation. The 'QNg 0350', significantly smaller than necessary for such a large fuel transfer, led authorities to believe it was intended to make multiple trips to shift the illicit shipment.