NMPT Chairman P Tamilvanan told Deccan Herald that the ship carrying about 13,600 MT of iron ore fines had left New Mangalore Port for China at about 9.30 am. After it reached about 15 nautical miles, it started listing.
Immediately, the Coast Guards and NMPT tug rushed to the spot. However the team returned when the captain said he would manage. They rushed back to the spot when they got the distress call again and anchored it around 6 nautical miles away from the shore.
Meanwhile, Coast Guard Commandant P S Jha said that 18 members have already been evacuated from the ship.
Sources said the reason for the listing is moist content and excess water in the cargo. The list was more than 20 degrees in the evening. The ship is likely to be abandoned, sources added.
‘Cheng Le Men,’ the cargo ship from St Vincent Islands, carrying about 16,100 MT of iron ore had listed about one nautical mile away from New Mangalore Port after it left for China on September 3, 2007. Incidentally, Cheng Le Men too was carrying iron ore to China and the listing was due to faulty loading.
However, all 28 crew on board safely sailed after a day. Prior to it, Eritrian ship Den Den sank off the coast of Thannirbavi and 21 sailors were rescued while three sailors lost their lives in the rescue operation.
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