NKorean ship entered India due to mechanical fault: Captain

PORT BLAIR: The North Korean cargo ship which illegally entered the country's territorial waters had done so due to mechanical problems, its

captain claimed on Saturday.

The captain said this during interrogations, according to sources in the Coast Guard (CG), which intercepted the sugar-laden ship near Little Andaman island, 200 nautical miles south of here.

The interrogation of the captain, whose name was not given out, and that of the ship's 38 other crew was continuing here and more details are expected.

The ship has been detained under heavy security at Little Andamans, where it was spotted anchored, the sources said.

TimesofIndia

As the Navy and CG's efforts for a radio response from the vessel failed, the CG sent out one of its aircraft to check on the vessel. A radio signal from the aircraft too did not get a reply, forcing the Navy and CG to send their patrol ships to the vessel.

Navy and CG personnel visited the cargo vessel, boarded and conducted a search on it. Later, the vessel was seized and brought here for questioning of its crew members, the sources said.

I certainly understand why they were worried, it does seem a bit suspicious.......

Did it's radio also fail???
Did the semi-four (sp) flags all get lost?
Did the signaling lighting all get lost?
Did all hand radio's get lost?

It may be exactly what they say, but my tinfoil hat seems to think otherwise.

Last note, will this catch China's eye?
Will they complain?
Will they sends ships to"assist" the N.K. ship?




[edit on 8/8/2009 by mrmonsoon]

[edit on 8/8/2009 by mrmonsoon]

Merchant ships change route all the time. Is this ship suspicious only because it is from North Korea? Apparently so. The ship itself seems to carry genuine goods to Iraq.

Coast Guard Andaman and Nicobar Region Commander K R Nautiyal (what a mouthful) himself claims that:

"The ship was supposed to have gone to Iraq, but changed its destination, which happens while at sea. They could be asked (by their agents) to go to different location,"

Why would China intervene?

reply to post by Oscitate


Suspicious because they refused all forms of communication.

China is their biggest friend, it would not be unheard of for an friend to help a ship from another country.

Also remember, it was the Indian navy that thought is was odd enough to board and question the captain and crew.

reply to post by mrmonsoon


Maybe the North Koreans don't understand the language?

You can hide a lot of things in Sugar.

Sugar heading for Iraq? From Thailand?

Seems feasable, but I didn't think there were any firms from NK that did such work. Aren't they all state owned? Doesn't Thailand border Burma? Dosen't Iraq Border Syria?

Hmm.

It's all a what if.

reply to post by crisko


As per the link, they "claim" they were headed for Myanmar.

That, of course, does not make it true.

That said, Myanmar has a brutal dictator just like Kim.

So they seem to be friendly member's of the brutal dictators club.