Released Italian oil tanker sets sail for home port

After 75 days of forced anchoring off Kochi coast, the Italian oil tanker Enrica Lexie set sail for Colombo yesterday evening on its onward journey to its home port after the ship’s owner, Dolphin Tanker Srl, and its captain completed all conditions set by the Supreme Court for releasing the vessel.

As directed by the apex court, the Naples-based ship owner furnished a bank guarantee for Rs30 million (Dh2.06 million) with the Registrar General of the Kerala High Court and captain of the ship, Umberto Vitelli, gave an undertaking to the official that he would produce the crew members on requirement before investigating agencies or the court.

The Indian authorities detained the ship off Kochi port after two Marines who were on security duty on the vessel shot and killed two fishermen on February 15, mistaking them for pirates.

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Trial jurisdiction

The Supreme Court will decide whether the Italian Marines will be tried in an Indian court. This is opposed by the Italian government, which argues that the incident occurred in international waters and India therefore has no right to register a case against the Marines. The Italian authorities have registered a case against the duo at home and an Italian court will decide on the charge.

Rome has been exerting pressure on Delhi to release the Marines. Italy does not accept that, under Indian law, the government has no jurisdiction on matters pending before a court.

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