CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the arrest of Prabhu Daya, which collided with a motor fishing vessel (MFV) and caused the death of four fishermen 16 nautical miles off Alappuzha coast in Kerala on March 1. Justice KBK Vasuki orde-red the arrest of the ship, presently in Indian waters at the Port of Chennai, on Friday while entertaining a ci-vil suit from Jacob Antony of Thangasseri in Kollam, owner of the MFV Don No 1. The suit prayed for a direction to the ship, flying a Singapore flag, to pay a compensation of Rs 1 crore with interest at the rate of 24 per cent per annum and to order the arrest of the ship together with the engines, gears, apparel, plant, machinery, furniture and fittings and paraphernalia.The plaintiff contended that the ship was anchored at Chennai Port for investigation and was likely to sail away once the same was ov-er. Its next destination was expected to be Singapore. In the event of the vessel being allowed to sail, the plaintiff would be put to irreparable loss. Hence, it should be arrested, the petition said. The plaintiff also stated that he was entitled to claim `1 crore from the ship towards the loss suffered by him towards the market value of MFV Don No 1, its accessories and fish catch.The fact that the ship was at the scene at the time of collision, subsequently sailing away without helping the drowning crew of Don No. 1, the attempted suicide by one of the crew, its detention by the statutory authorities and the physical marks of collision on the ship clearly established the fact that the ship caused the collision, in which four were killed.
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