M'lore cargo vessel, 6 crew go missing off Lakshadweep coast

The cargo vessel MSV AL-Akther left Mangalore Old Port on November 24. According to Mustaf Shafi, the vessel owner,  the captain had anchored the vessel Saturday evening about half a nautical mile away from Amini Island, Lakshadweep. The island is about 300 km from Mangalore.

“At 5.50 am on Sunday, captain Shankaran called me to inform that the vessel was in danger owing to the rough sea. All the three hangars used for anchoring were cut and the vessel was adrift due to gusty winds. He pleaded that the crew members be rescued at the earliest,” Shafi said. Shafi said he immediately contacted the Lakshadweep Coast Guards and the rescuers set at once with their speedboats. However, turbulent sea delayed their arrival and by the time they reached the spot after 30 minutes, the vessel could not be spotted.

The missing crew members are: K Shankaran from Kerala (captain), Amin Jusab Baya, Ahammed Ismail, Salim Ali Sumbania, Mausin Aliya, Altaf Mohammed Chamadia - and all were from Jamnagar in Gujarat. Nearly 50 per cent of consignments onboard MSV AL-Akther were unloaded on Friday afternoon and Saturday evening as the vessel could not enter the port, said Mustafa.