Kochi: A day after a merchant ship collided with a fishing boat off the coast of Kochi, the coastal police have yet to register a case, as the affected fishermen have reportedly not filed a complaint. 

Coastal Police AIG Padmam Singh said that they have enquired into the incident, but the boat owner or the fishermen, who suffered losses in the collision, have not filed a formal complaint. “If they lodge a complaint, we will register a case. Without any complaint, we cannot take any action,” he said. 

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the merchant vessel MSC Silver II struck the fishing boat ‘Prathyasha’ around 5.30 pm in the outer sea. While a major tragedy was avoided thanks to alerts from other nearby fishing boats, the fishermen aboard Prathyasha reportedly had to jump into the water as their vessel was brushed by the ship. The boat sustained damage, and the fishing nets were destroyed. The ship involved in the incident remains anchored in Kochi. 

According to sources, agents of the shipping company have reportedly held discussions with the fishermen to settle the matter without registering a case, offering to compensate for the losses. 

However, Jackson Pollayil, president of the Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF), denied that any settlement has been reached. “A meeting with the shipping company officials is scheduled for Friday. But this is about the safety of fishing boats. If ships do not adhere to designated shipping lanes, it poses a serious threat to boats and those who work on them,” he said.