The Mercantile Marine Department jointly with the Coast Guards have tracked down about nine vessels suspected to be involved in the hit-and run incident off the Kerala coast on Thursday.

Those ships prima facie found involved in the collision are being investigated, a release issued by the Directorate General of Shipping said. “It would not be fair to name any vessel at this point, as we are investigating more than one,” said a senior official at the DG Shipping.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said one cargo ship, suspected to be involved in the accident, has been directed to proceed to Kochi for investigation. The ship, according to reports, was on its way from Goa to Singapore. Two fishermen were killed and three were missing after their boat was hit by an unidentified ship. Sources in the DG Shipping said that a coast guard identified the ship based on suspicion. The ship owner was asked to bring the ship to Kochi for further probe.