'Stranded Iranian vessel safe'

Empty vessel ‘Andrian-3’ with eight crew members was sailing towards Iran from Jakarta. The Captain of the vessel had to anchor the vessel when it reached Mangalore coast at around 7 am due to shortage of fuel. The Mangalore Coast Guard swung into action and sent its vessel ‘Savithri Bai Phule’ for the rescue operation.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Coast Guard Commandant Padam Shekar Jha said that all crew membes are safe. “All arrangements have been made to supply fuel to the vessel. The fuel refilling process is expected to complete by midnight. The vessel can start sailing after midnight,” he added.

Jha said that the inclement weather in the Mangalore coast did not affect the vessel, though it was anchored close to the shore. However, he said, later the vessel was moved towards the deep sea and has been achored around four nautical miles away from the New Mangalore Port to avoid any possible disaster.

Out of eight crew members in the vessel, seven were from Indonasia. However, the Captain of the vessel is an Iranian. A local shipping agency Marcons Shipping Company sent a boat to guide the Iranian vessel.  Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj and City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh visited Tannirbavi and assessed the situation.