Coast Guard rescues 28 from stranded vessel

MUMBAI - The Indian Coast Guard rescued 28 crew members, including six foreign nationals, from a merchant vessel in distress, an official said Monday.

“The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Mumbai and Coast Guard received a distress call from Quadrant Maritime Pvt Ltd that one of its vessels, MV Khalijia 3, had excessive flooding and requested assistance,” a defence official said.

The Coast Guard promptly directed tug Garware-3, operating in the area, to remain in the vicinity until assistance reached the stranded vessel.

“Coast Guard fast patrol ship Subhadra Kumari Chauhan was also dispatched with adequate repair facilities, submersible pumps and divers,” the official said.

“The distressed vessel from China was fully laden with steel coils and had grounded at the fore side. The crew were standing on the aft section of vessels waiting for assistance,” he said, adding the Coast Guard evacuated all 28 crew members during the dark, amid a rough sea and heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard’s specialised pollution response team and advanced offshore patrol vessel with pollution response equipment was also kept on standby to meet any oil pollution incident resulting from the grounding.

“The Coast Guard ship remained in area and escorted the vessel, which was towed by a tug to safer waters,” the official said.

The Coast Guard also launched a helicopter for further assessment and assistance. “No oil pollution has been reported till now and a continuous watch is being maintained for any such eventuality,” the official said.