India critical of US ship for not declaring arms while entering Indian waters

NEW DELHI: India did not suspect “the intentions” of US-owned ship MV Seaman Guard Ohio, which was supporting anti-piracy operations, but was critical of the fact that the vessel did not follow procedure of declaring arms while entering the Indian waters.

A top government official in Delhi said that the ship was supporting anti-piracy operations and not suspected to supply arms to any terror or extremist group in India. However, the ship would not be let off unless it makes proper declarations on entering the Indian waters, the official added.

The official ruled out the fact that the vessel was trying to smuggle arms into India. “If the vessel had the intentions to supply arms it would not have entered the Indian waters,” he claimed. However, the government wants to fulfill the entire procedure to give the vessel any clean chit. The Centre is awaiting a detailed report from the investigators.

Last week MV Seaman Guard Ohio, owned by US company AdvanFort, was detained by Indian Coast Guard off the Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu for entering Indian waters without following procedures.

The state police have seized 31 assault rifles and around 5,000 rounds of ammunition from the ship. US company Advan-Fort assists anti-piracy operations. Of the 35 people on board, 12 are Indian, three are Ukrainian, six British and 14 Estonian.

Official sources described the vessel as a floating armory, which supported anti-piracy operations in the meritime region the Gulf of Hormuz and the Malacca Straits. The website of AdvanFort claims that it provides comprehensive maritime security solutions for the global commercial shipping industry. The security teams comprise former US, UK and NATO Special Forces operators.