A roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel, operated by the Kochi Corporation, experienced a sudden electrical outage in its generator system on Tuesday night, causing it to drift off course temporarily.
This brief power loss, lasting just 10 to 15 seconds while the standby generator activated, coupled with powerful low tide currents, resulted in the vessel losing control and striking two traditional Chinese fishing nets.
Officials from the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Limited (KSINC), responsible for managing and operating Kochi’s Ro-Ro services, confirmed that such an incident is a rare occurrence in recent history.
Thanks to the swift intervention of the onboard engineer, the technical issue was quickly resolved. The vessel was back in full service by Wednesday morning, ensuring minimal disruption.
Following the collision, one of the fishing net owners promptly filed a complaint. KSINC representatives have already conducted an on-site assessment of the damage, and it is anticipated that the second net owner will also seek compensation. Both claims will be processed and covered by insurance.