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India detains Advanfort maritime security vessel

India detains Advanfort maritime security vessel
Sierra-Leone-flagged Seaman Guard Ohio, operated by Virginia Private Maritime Security firm Advanfort, is under investigation by Indian Police after it was allegedly found in Indian waters with 30 unauthorised firearms on board.

The vessel, which carried 10 crew and 25 armed security personnel of UK, Estonian, Indian and Ukranian origin, was intercepted approximately 15 nautical miles off India’s south coast, and is currently being held at the port of Tuticorin.

Advanfort said the vessel had been seeking safe harbour from a typhoon. released a statement on 14 October  to “thank and commend the Indian Coastguard, port officials at Tuticorin and the Tamil Nadu police for allowing our vessel. to tender the port both to take on fuel and to escape the effects of Typhoon Phailin.” In the statement, Advanfort president William Watson said “I want to personally thank the Indian government for offering a safe harbour during this typhoon to the crew of our good vessel OHIO. We look forward to returning this vessel to its duties as quickly as formalities and resupply operations are concluded.”

Watson said rifles and ammunition onboard were properly licensed. "As these men routinely provide armed counter-piracy protection, they also had aboard their uniforms, protective equipment, medical kits, rifles and ammunition – all of which is properly registered and licensed to AdvanFort."

However, in a conflicting report from the Wall Street Journal, Indian coastguard Commandant Anand Kumar said that the vessel was detained and police brought in after neither crew nor guards were able to provide the relevant authorisation papers for the carrying of arms in Indian waters or provide an explanation for the vessel’s patrolling so close to the Indian Coast.

M. Manohar, police superindentent of the Tamil Nadu state coastal security, said that "We gave them 24 hours, but they were unable to produce the necessary documentation for the weapons. We are conducting an enquiry."