MV Asian Express – Dramatic Rescue Caught on Tape

Earlier in June, the Indian Coast Guard rescued 22 crew members of the sinking Asian Express off the west coast of India and, as it turns out, the rescue was all caught on tape. India’s Times Now has this dramatic report on the dramatic rescue. Check it out:

Note: Can’t disable autoplay… sorry.

gCaptain reported June 12 that the M/V Asian Express, a Maldives-flagged general cargo ship, had suffered an engine failure and was adrift for two days in severe weather about 200 miles west of Kochi in the Arabian Sea.

The Indian Coast Guard vessel ICGS Varuna responded and, upon reaching the ship, discovered it had a three to four meter vertical gash in the hull below the waterline and was taking on water. All 22 crew were forced to abandoned ship, but were recovered in a daring operation by the ICGS Varuna as the Asian Express sank in the background.

The ship was enroute from Pakistan to Male with a cargo of cement and sand. The 22 crew consisted of 18 Maldivians and 4 Indians.