HYDERABAD: Stay strong brother, just tell the truth to the investigation authorities — this piece of advice is for the captain of
MV Dali
which crashed into the
Francis Scott Key Bridge
in Baltimore. There are 21 Indian
seafarers
on board the ship and a Sri Lankan.
Bhaskar Rivankar
, founder-member of Goa Maritime Officers Association (GMOA), wishes he could speak with the captain and the crew to express
solidarity
with them but it has not been possible as the ship management has not made public the names of the crew.
“We understand the need to protect their identities as an investigation by multiple agencies is on and the crew need to provide all the details to the investigators,” Rivankar, a chief engineer, who has been a seafarer for 23 years, said.
“We would like the crew to at least know that we in India are standing solidly behind them at this crucial situation. Our suggestion is “Tell the truth, whatever it is, to the investigation authorities,” he told
TOI
. This is something that he has put up on his social media too. “We want a
fair investigation
,” Rivankar said.
His words are being echoed by other seafarers and those from the shipping fraternity. Goa Maritime Officers Association secretary Larson D’Sa said major organisations in the
shipping fraternity
are also following the development and are ready to extend their support to the seafarers on board MV Dali.
“There is a
laid down procedure
for the investigation and we believe that will be strictly adhered to,” he said.
English (US) ·