Mumbai, August 4
Thirty crew members of a Panamian-flagged cargo ship were rescued this morning after it sprang a leak and began sinking off the Mumbai coast, according to the Coast Guard. The MV Rak Carrier is almost submerged under water, posing threat to marine traffic.

The ship was carrying 60,000 tonnes of coal in addition to fuel oil and diesel for its engines to Dahej, Gujarat from Lubuk-Tutung, Indonesia. The crew members were all foreign nationals from Indonesia, Jordan and Romania, according to the police here.

The Coast Guard said the ship sent a distress call when it was about 25 nautical miles from Mumbai. Shortly after the signal was received around 8 am, the Coast Guard rushed the Samudri Prahar and two helicopters to rescue the crew members. The situation was so dire that 11 of the crew members had already jumped into the sea by the time rescuers reached there.

The ship belongs to the Delta Shipping Marine Services of Qatar.

Officials said they were monitoring the sea for possible pollution caused by fuel and oil from the ill-fated ship. Warnings have been issued for marine traffic about the danger posed by the sunken ship.

New Delhi, August 4
The government said today that there was no security lapse regarding a merchant vessel being grounded at Mumbai coast and it was awaiting the report of the Navy Chief who was conducting a probe as to how the ship entered into Indian waters undetected.

“There was no security lapse. There was a report that it was an abandon ship and I am willing to reserve my comment till I receive the inquiry report...the first report is expected in a day or two,” Home Minister P Chidambaram said.

He said coastal security was under the command of the Coast Guard and the Chief of Naval Staff had ordered an inquiry into the incident of merchant vessel MV Pavit which ran aground at Mumbai coast on Sunday.

Taking serious note of the incident, Defence Minister AK Antony had already asked the Navy and the Indian Coast Guard to submit a report as to how the abandoned ship entered Indian waters undetected. — PTI