An MSC containership has collided with a fishing vessel off the coast of Kerala, India, reigniting concerns among local fishermen about commercial ships sailing too close to shore, The Maritime Executive reports.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on October 1, when the MSC Silver II reportedly struck a fishing boat hauling in about $11,000 worth of mackerel. The crew said they tried to contact the containership by radio, and other nearby boats raised alarms. The cargo vessel slowed down, but the collision could not be avoided.
The fishing boat sustained an estimated $5,600 in damage and lost its net, though all 45 crew members escaped unharmed. According to local reports, MSC’s local agent later reached a private settlement with the fishermen.
Fishermen’s unions say this is the latest in a series of collisions caused by ships navigating too close to coastal fishing zones. They are urging authorities to expand the safe sea lane from the current 27 nautical miles to 50, citing eight serious accidents and 15 deaths in recent years.
While this latest collision caused no casualties, it underscores the growing tension between India’s coastal fishing communities and international shipping lines operating in the Arabian Sea.
