JOIN USShip salvage to begin soon
Coast Guard Karnataka Commandant Padam Shekhar Jha told Deccan Herald that they discussed the matter with the representatives of ship owners P&G Marine Company Limited of South Korea and Singapore based salvage company Smith and Company. The operation will commence soon after the arrival of salvage team, he added.
He said that he himself visited the spot sea, where the vessel sunk. “The region is safe and no oil spill or pollution has been detected so far,” he said.
The aircraft belong to Indian Coast Guard Kochi unit conducted two sorties of surveillance of 3 - 4 hours each, he said adding that Coast Guard ships too were patrolling the area.
Jha said that two Coast Guard ships from Kochi and Mumbai have already started sailing towards Mangalore. The state Home Ministry, chief secretary and the district administration were also alerted to make necessary arrangements for the resource mobilisation.
The vessel which sailed out from New Mangalore Port carrying 13,600 MT of iron ore fines to Zhavgjiagang in China had encountered listing on Friday and later sunk on Saturday.
Metal objects shored
In another development, seven hollow metal objects, measuring about 3x10 meters and resembling ship parts, were shored near Someshwar - Uchila Beach on Monday creating curiosity in local fishermen.
The objects, which were traced about 12 kilometres away from Mangalore coast, were pulled to the shore by local fishermen and residents fastening ropes on it. However, Coast Guard authorities did not confirm whether the shored objects are of M V Asian Forest or not.