Crew Rescued from Sinking Containership Off Mumbai

The Indian Navy helped evacuate all 20 crew from a sinking containership off Mumbai early Monday.

India’s Ministry of Defence said that the Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Mumbai) received a distress call Sunday night at approximately 11:00 p.m. from the Indian-flagged MV Jindal Kamakshi reporting that the vessel was listing by about 20 degrees.

The vessel underway from Mundra to Kochi with 20 crew members and was located about 100 kilometers from Mumbai when it sent out the distress call. With weather deteriorating, the ship anchored about 25 kilometers from Vasai creek, just north of Mumbai.

An initial overflight by the Indian Navy determined that immediate assistance was not required. By 6:15 a.m. however, strong winds, rain and heavy seas worsened the condition of the vessel, and the Captain requested assistance in evacuating the crew.

All 19 crew were airlifted from the vessel by Navy helicopter and brought to the guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai, which had just arrive on scene. The Captain was eventually hoisted by a Coast Guard helicopter launched from Mumbai.

The MV Jindal Kamakshi remained at anchor and abandoned as of Monday night, the Ministry of Defence reported.

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