Listing ship sinks off M'lore coast

The ship was carrying 366 tonnes of fuel oil and 45 tonnes of diesel in its fuel containers. Coast Guard Karnataka Commandant Padam Shekhar Jha told Deccan Herald that contact had been established with representatives of P & G Marine Company, Busan in South Korea, who own the vessel, agents Golf Alpha Charley Shipping and ABCO Trading Company, Kottara Chowki, Mangalore.

The company has been asked to make necessary arrangements for salvage operations and to remove the oil and wreckage, he said.  A salvage team of Singapore- based Smith and Company is expected to reach the ill-fated ship’s site on Sunday. Jha said there were no signs of oil spill as yet but all precautions would be taken to check spill.

The ship carrying iron ore fines, which set sail from the New Mangalore Port for Zhavgjiagang in China at around 9:30 am on Friday encountered rough seas and later started listing. All the 18 crew members of the ship, who were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Sankalp, are safe in a hotel in the city.