The Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), William R. Gallagher, announced that a flag state investigation has been started into the sinking of M/V YTHAN in the Caribbean Sea on February 28, 2004. YTHAN was carrying a cargo of hot briquetted iron, better known as direct reduced iron. In accordance with the International Maritime Organization Assembly Resolution A.849(20) as amended, Captain Kenneth Cookson, an RMI Investigating Officer, has been dispatched to commence the investigation, and is now in South America. The RMI deeply regrets the loss of life and ship caused by this accident. The RMI is…