Alang Bound Mystery Ship Mersin-15: A Storm of Suspicion
Bhavnagar, India – A cargo ship, Mersin-15, is at the heart of a complex and widening investigation by India’s top law enforcement agencies. Slated for scrapping at the Alang shipbreaking yard, the vessel’s past has raised serious concerns.
Built in 1991 in Egypt, the 5275 MT general cargo ship was recently purchased by I-Ship Maritime LLC-Dubai and is destined for the scrapyard owned by Plot No.88 in Alang. However, the ship’s journey to India is far from ordinary.
After noticing suspicious activity, the Coast Guard first raised the alarm when they intercepted Mersin-15 near Pipavav. Crew members were found to be using a banned Thuraya satellite phone to communicate with unknown parties abroad. Despite orders to stop, the ship accelerated, triggering a pursuit.
When the vessel was brought to Bhavnagar anchorage, a multi-agency investigation was launched involving the Coast Guard, Customs, and other security agencies.
The crew, comprising four Egyptians and eight Syrians, explained the ship’s erratic behaviour: the vessel had begun to tilt due to water ingress, necessitating a distress call via satellite phone.
However, this explanation has done little to quell suspicions. A startling discovery was made during crew checks: an Indian mobile SIM card, active for the past five years, was found in the possession of a foreign crew member. Questions abound about who recharged the SIM and why.
Furthermore, the crew member was found to have been engaging in WhatsApp chats with contacts in Pakistan. Even more alarmingly, these chats included images of suspected drug packets.
The ship’s itinerary has also raised eyebrows. Departing from Yemen’s Aden empty, its logical destination was Alang, a shorter sea route compared to Karachi, Pakistan. Yet, Mersin-15 inexplicably entered Pakistani waters and even disembarked two crew members at Karachi’s outer port limit.
The connection to Pakistan is a key focus of the investigation. Why would a ship bound for India venture into Pakistani waters? What was the purpose of disembarking crew members there? And how did an Indian SIM card and images of drugs end up in the hands of foreign crew members?
The agencies are also probing the possibility of drug trafficking. The ship’s route through a region known for drug smuggling, coupled with the discovery of drug-related images, has led investigators to explore this angle. There are even suspicions that the crew might have jettisoned drugs overboard when they sensed they were under scrutiny.
As the investigation deepens, more questions arise. Who was the ship’s true owner? What was its actual cargo? And what role did the disembarked crew members play in the overall scheme?
With each passing day, the mystery surrounding Mersin-15 thickens. The ship, once destined for the scrapyard, has become a focal point for India’s law enforcement agencies as they work tirelessly to unravel the web of intrigue and potential criminality.
This is a developing story and more details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
