The Hindu : National : Sailor dies as vessel sinks off Karwar coast, 19 rescued

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Wednesday, May 31, 2006

National

National

Sailor dies as vessel sinks off Karwar coast, 19 rescued

Staff Correspondent

The vessel was anchored for four days waiting to be berthed at the port

KARWAR: Second officer Azim from Mumbai died when Ocean Sekaya, a Japanese vessel with a Panama flag, got damaged after hitting a rock and partially sank in the rough seas in the early hours of Tuesday.

Coast Guard helicopters from Goa airlifted 19 members of the crew to safety. S. Ravi, Superintendent of Police, said the vessel had been anchored for four days waiting to be berthed at the port here.

However, the 271-metre long, 35-metre high vessel, with a capacity to hold 75,000 tonnes of cargo, could not berth due to inclement weather. Ocean Sekaya was to pick up a load of iron ore fines, he said.

Mr. Ravi said the anchor of the vessel snapped following gusty winds around 2 a.m. The vessel started drifting and dashed against a rock on an island that housed the lighthouse. The vessel suffered structural damage and started sinking.

The local authorities received information at 4 a.m. but could not make a rescue attempt because of rough weather. Even coast guard helicopters could be operated only around 8.30 a.m. Mr. Ravi said Azim could have been thrown overboard. His fellow sailors saw the body on the island around 8.30 a.m. but it was washed away into the sea. Efforts were on to locate the body, Mr. Ravi said. Subashchandra, inspector (special branch), said efforts would be made to re-float the stranded vessel.

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