Mangalore: Lakshadweep-bound ship capsizes off coast, crew safe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 8: A mini ship loaded with construction materials and foodstuff, which had sailed from the old port at Bunder here for Lakshadweep on Wednesday, drowned in the sea in the early hours of Thursday February 7.

All the six crew members were rescued and brought back to safety. The incident occurred around 40 nautical miles off the port here.

The mini ship bearing the name, ‘Al Masoor’, was loaded with cement, crushed stones, iron rods, and food items. After it traversed a distance of about 50 nautical miles, it encountered strong winds. As the sea was turbulent and waves were high, the crew decided to turn back. By the time the ship covered a distance of about 15 nautical miles on return journey, water started gushing into the engine room. The crew then beamed distress signal over wireless system, and crew of another ship, ‘Karp Muttamma Aniamma’ responded to the call, anchored their vessel near the ship in distress, and rescued the crew members with the help of ropes.

The crew members, Hussain, Khadar, Javed, Basheer, Arafat, and Anwar, succeeded in keeping the ship afloat till they were rescued, by continuously pouring out water that entered their ship. Their ship sank once they abandoned it. The tragedy occurred at around 2 am, and the crew reached the port here on Thursday morning.

In a complaint filed with the port office here, owner of the ship put the loss suffered in the incident at Rs 30 lac.