From Daijiworld's special correspondent coordinating reportage from Panaji
Karwar, May 31 (Wednesday, 4-30 am): All the 21 crew members stranded on merchant vessel Ocean Seraya, off the Karwar coast in Karnataka were rescued by the Coast Guard while search is still on for the ship's second-officer-in-command, who had jumped aboard.
The crew members including captain's wife who were onboard were made to disembark at Karwar port, commandant R M Sharma, deputy inspector general, indian coast guard, told reporters in Panaji, Goa.
The Singapore-registered 230-metre-long ship had hit the rocks during wee hours of Tuesday this morning, when it was drifted away with the wind off the Karwar coast near Cape Rama island.
The Coast Guard had initiated search and rescue operation in the morning and the Chetak helicopter under command of commandant S Aryavir with co-pilot Comdt Munish Agarwal and aircrew divers were pressed into service.
The ship's second in command, Azim Juvale, a Thane-resident, could not be traced as he had jumped in the turbulent waters when ship hit the rocks, obviously with intention of saving himself.
The coast guard officials said that the ship was dangerously placed. All the rescued crew were handed over to the care of Karwar port authorities.
Daijiworld News Flash dated May 30 with updates: