Detained US ship’s guards, crew booked for carrying arms (Indian Coast Guard)

[Recursion]

I know there have been a couple of OPs on this over the past few days, but I thought I'd add the latest from the subcontinent. I don't know if this is as big a story in the US; it's already eclipsing the typhoon here.

EDIT: ah, yes, a link would help, wouldn't it? http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Detained-US-ships-guards-crew-booked-for-carrying-arms/articleshow/24174382.cms

Over 48 hours have passed since MV Seaman Guard Ohio, a ship owned by US company AdvanFort, was detained by Indian Coast Guard off the Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu, but there are still no clear answers on how the ship entered Indian waters carrying arms and ammunition without any permits.

...

Of the 35 people on board, 10 were crew members (eight are Indian and two Ukrainian), the rest were security guards (six are British, 14 Estonian, one Ukrainian and four Indian).

Reports claimed that the ship's captain has told investigators that AdvanFort provides armed escorts to merchant vessels travelling in pirate-infested waters in the Indian Ocean and has all the necessary clearances.

However, Indian officials remain unconvinced. A Tamil Nadu marine police official was quoted by a news agency as saying: "Officials from various departments involved in security are questioning the members of the Seaman Guard ship. A clear picture has not yet emerged. The ship officials have been giving contradictory versions. The papers presented by them do not support their oral statements."

So, the crew have now been booked initially for (oddly enough) carrying diesel fuel without proper paperwork, and this whole charlie fox is about to land on somebody's lap...

[bemildred]

1. Yes, I've been watching that. No comment to make, except it sort of reeks. nt