Kochi: A unoccupied foreign yacht called S Y Sea Dreams was seized on Wednesday near the Bolgatty Island for visiting various ports in Lakshadweep islands last year without necessary permission.
According to a release, Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said the yacht registered in Basel, Switzerland, was seized from the Cochin International Marina on the basis of intelligence gathered by officers of the Customs Preventive Division. The yacht’s owner had left for Switzerland and was expected to return next month.
The yacht had arrived at the Cochin Port on 23 February 2018, anchored at the Marina on 26 February and remained there up to 13 October. It had left for the Lakshadweep islands on 13 October and returned to the marina on 1 December.
It had called on Bangaram, Kalpeni, Agatti, Kadamat, Amini and Kavaratti islands of Lakshadweep, and apparently the Customs Ports were not notified. Such voyages in Indian waters for weeks without customs permission was a serious security breach.
According to the release, various sections of the Customs Act, 1962, has been violated by the vessel and it is liable for confiscation.
“The Marina authorities informed that the owner of the said yacht Thomas Reichert has left for Switzerland and will be back in the month of March,” the release said.
The yacht has been handed over to the custody of Marina authority, and officials are investigating the purpose and reasons of the vessel’s visit to the islands.