Detained Iran-bound North Korea ship baffles India

MUMBAI (Reuters) - "India has detained an empty North Korean cargo ship bound for Iran after it strayed into Indian waters, baffling coast guard officials and police about the purpose of its voyage.

'MV Omrani-II' developed a snag and entered Indian waters on October 29 and was towed to the Mumbai Port where the crew was being questioned by Indian intelligence and customs officials.

'The crew has not been able to explain why they were sailing an empty vessel to Iran,' a senior coast guard official told Reuters on condition of anonymity on Thursday.

However a senior official at the Directorate General of Shipping said: 'They have told us that because it is a new ship they were testing it. But it is strange that they should need to sail as far as Iran.'"