KOCHI: Kerala Maritime Board sought the help of retired naval officers for design approval and annual inspection of new boats. The Southern Naval Headquarters in Kochi and the Institute of Marine Engineers were approached for this purpose. The board sought their help as naval architects and surveyors were not willing to cooperate.

The current crisis is the aftermath of the Tanur boat disaster in March that claimed the lives of 22 people. Naval architects and surveyors are reluctant to cooperate with Maritime after the board's chief surveyor Sebastian Joseph was arrested and charged with murder in this case.

The approved consultants included seven persons, that included five persons from the Department of Naval Architecture, Kochi University, and four ship design companies. It is these naval architects who have to approve the design. Surveyors should certify whether the construction is as per the design, whether the measurements are followed, whether there is an approved yard, whether there is stability etc. These are mandatory if one wants to run a boat service. Due to their non-cooperation, the new boats that are built at the cost of crores are lying unfinished in the yards. Due to the failure to conduct annual inspections on time, many boats whose fitness has lapsed are operating across the state.

"New consultants will be appointed within a month to resolve the crisis. Tanur accident and the technicalities of the central law is what caused the trouble."

TP Salimkumar

CEO, Kerala Maritime Board

"The work of more than a hundred small and big boats is stalled at various yards. Permission is required at every stage. An industry that employs many people has been affected. Immediate resolution is needed."

Dr. Sudhakaran Jeevan

Secretary, Composite Boat Builders Association of Kerala