Search for missing person of capsized cargo ship on

Mangalore, June 24 (UNI) Search operations were continuing to trace the crew member of the South African cargo ship, which ran aground and capsized in the turbulent tides near Tannirbavi coast, near here, yesterday.

The ship carrying 8000 tonnes of furnace slag to the UAE fell on its side after running aground due to gusty winds and high tidal waves even as Southwest monsoon wreaked havoc over Dakshina Kannada and many parts of Karnataka for the last two days.

Superintendent of Police B Dyanand told UNI that the search operation that was halted last night resumed today. The missing person was identified as Tedsse Berikut, but his nationality was yet to be known.

The ship could be salvaged only after the weather clears. Heavy tug boats with heavy duty cranes had to be requistioned from Gujarat for the purpose, he said.

Eritrea, a registered ship with 24 crew members of mixed nationalities and captained by Ghanian Abraham N Kwaw came to New Mangalore Port from Eritrea on June 17 and began its voyage towards the Dubai coast on June 21. As the ship developed a technical snag soon after it sailed out of the port, it was anchored near Tannirbavi beach for repairs.

Due to strong gale coupled with heavy rain, the ship ran aground and started tilting on its side yesterday morning. While 21 crew were rescued from the ship, two died and another went missing. The local fishermen from Tannirbavi and Bengre area launched a rescue operation to find out the missing person, who jumped into the sea when the ship started to sink.

With the sinking of the ship, the serene coast to the north of the city had begun to pollute with leakage of snag and 133 tonnes of petroleum products, including diesel and lubricant oil.

UNI