(a) whether the Indian Warship, INS Kora collided sideways with huge merchant vessel 300 nautical miles off Visakhapatnam coast;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether such a grave incident happened in spite of INS Kora having a zone of sanitation of about 5-20 nautical miles;
(d) if so, whether any inquiry has been instituted in this regard; and
(e) if so, the outcome of the same and action taken on the persons found guilty?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. INS Kora, on passage from Visakhapatnam to Port Blair scraped Merchant Vessel Madeleine Rickmers, at about 0353 hours on 13th October 2014 approx 300 nautical miles off the Coast of Visakhapatnam. Minor damage to the ship’s side was reported. However, there has been no damage to watertight integrity or any injuries / loss of life. The ship is presently fully seaworthy.
(c) to (e): A Board of Inquiry (BoI) to investigate circumstances leading to the incidents has been instituted.