Mid sea collision off Kerala coast sinks fishing boat, two fishermen missing

A routine deep sea fishing trip ended in tragedy after a fishing boat sank following a collision with a cargo ship in the Arabian Sea , leaving two fishermen missing and triggering a search operation off the coast of Kollam.

Officials said the accident occurred nearly 120 nautical miles off the Kerala coast when the fishing vessel St Joseph collided with a foreign cargo ship while operating in deep waters. The powerful impact reportedly caused extensive structural damage , forcing the small boat to sink within minutes.

The vessel had set sail from Shakthikulangara Harbour on Friday night with 11 crew members on board , most of them migrant fishermen engaged in deep sea fishing.

Authorities believe the collision occurred when the fishing boat came into the path of the cargo vessel navigating towards Kochi port . The large size and momentum of the ship meant the smaller fishing vessel suffered severe damage during the impact.

Soon after the accident, the crew of the cargo ship launched a rescue effort , pulling nine fishermen from the sea . However, two crew members remain missing , and their fate remains uncertain.

The rescued fishermen are expected to be brought ashore either at Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram , where officials will record their statements to determine the exact sequence of events.

Meanwhile, maritime authorities and coastal police are examining whether navigation errors, visibility issues, or communication gaps between the vessels contributed to the collision.

A formal case will be registered after preliminary statements are recorded , officials said, as efforts continue to trace the missing fishermen and understand how the mid sea accident unfolded.