MUMBAI: The Navy and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Monday jointly launched a massive operation after a merchant vessel began sinking off Vasai in Maharashtra’s Palghar district and rescued all the 20 people on board.
“At about 11 pm on Sunday, an Indian-flagged container vessel, MV Jindal Kamakshi, sent out a distress alert. The vessel was coming from from Mundra in Gujarat to Kochi with 20 crew members on board. The merchant vessel was about 100 km from Mumbai harbour and reported that it was tilting to one side by 20 degrees. Inclement weather aggravated the situation and the ship anchored about 25 km West of Vasai creek. The distress alert was received by the ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre,” said Navy officials.
The vessel was carrying 72 tonnes of heavy oil and 14 tonnes of diesel oil. The Directorate General of Shipping was requested to mobilise emergency towing vessels.
Officials said that despite the gale force winds, driving rain and pitch darkness, the Navy swung in to action by launching a seaking helicopter. The helicopter went overhead the vessel, carried out a visual assessment and returned to Mumbai when the vessel’s captain said immediate assistance wasn’t required.
In order to respond to any emergency, the guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai was readied and sailed out in the wee hours of Monday.