Cargo Ship Headed To Lakshadweep Sinks Off Mangaluru, All 6 Crew Rescued

A cargo ship transporting cement, construction materials, and food supplies sank early on May 14 in the Arabian Sea, around 60 to 70 nautical miles southwest of Mangaluru, Karnataka.

All six crew members were safely rescued by the Indian Coast Guard in a timely operation.

The vessel, named MSV Salaamath, had departed from Mangaluru Port on May 12 and was heading toward Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep, with its arrival scheduled for May 18.

The trouble began at around 5:30 AM IST on May 14, when the vessel started taking on water. The flooding is believed to be the main cause of the sinking, though the exact reason has not yet been confirmed.

Some reports suggest the vessel may have been struck by a massive wave, while others indicate that a technical issue might have caused the water ingress.

The Indian Coast Guard, as cited by news agency ANI, mentioned that the cause of flooding remains under investigation.

As the situation worsened, the crew was forced to abandon the sinking vessel and took shelter in a small dinghy. Later, a transiting merchant vessel, MT Epic Susui, spotted the drifting dinghy around 52 nautical miles off the Surathkal coast and immediately alerted the Indian Coast Guard.

At around 12:15 PM on May 14, the Coast Guard received the alert and diverted ICGS Vikram, which was on routine patrol in the region. The patrol vessel swiftly reached the location and successfully rescued all six crew members from the dinghy.

The rescued sailors were identified as: Alemun Ahmed Bhai Ghavda, Akbar Abdul Surani, Ismail Shareef, Kasam Ismail Mepani, Kakal Suleman Ismail, and Azmal.

After the rescue, the Coast Guard provided first aid to the survivors and brought them safely to New Mangalore Port. They arrived at the port on May 15.

According to Coast Guard officials, the cargo vessel was carrying a mixed load of cement, construction goods, and food supplies meant for Kadmat Island.

The local authorities will now conduct further interviews with the rescued crew members to understand more about the incident and investigate the possible reasons behind the vessel’s flooding and eventual sinking.

References: daijiworld, abplive

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