Rescue work of Oel-Vision completes; vessel sinks away from rig

Mumbai, Aug 2 (UNI) The Regional Contingency Committee (RCC), comprising representatives from Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Gaurd, DG Shipping and ONGC completed the rescue operations of crew members of Oel-Vision ship early this morning.

Addressing mediapersons here this afternoon, defence PRO Capt Abhay Lamhate said 27 crew members of the merchant Navy ship were evacuated last evening itself, while the master of the vessel opted to stay back for helping with attempts to tow the ship, but he was also brought to the Nava air station in the wee hours today.

The merchant vessel Oel-Vision, carrying 268 containers, was adrift by around one nautical mile from the exploration rig Rantop Mayer near the Western edge of Bombay High, posing a grave danger to the platform, after the vessel suffered major machinery breakdown.

The authorities, whose only options were to either tow it away or sink it to avert a collision, managed to sink it after it had passed clear of the rig at 0400 hrs today, and there was no damage to any installation and all crew members had been evacuated to safety, the reporters were told.

The Naval, Coast Guard ships and aircraft are currently searching the area for any containers that might have broken free from the ship, and they would be sunk so that they do not pose any danger for safe navigation.

The container ship had apparently developed engine problems and started taking in waters two days ago. GThe vessel was listing 10 degrees to starboard.

In July last year, a vessel had collided with the Mumbai High platform, killing 26 people and destroying the platform.

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