Crew members of tanker rescued by Coast Guards

Mangalore, July 7: The Indian Coast Guard today rescued Eight crew members of a motor tanker on receiving the SOS message from the tanker, Coast Guard Commandant Manoj Badkar said.

Sources said that the tanker 'Abdul Kalam Azad' loaded with crude oil was on its way to Mangalore from Mumbai. It sent out a SOS message stating that the Tanker was in deep distress as it was caught by rough wind, five nautical miles away from New Mangalore Port.

One of the crew members of the tanker ship fell of the tanker at 0745 hrs and seven of his colleagues went into rescue operation and were in deep distress.

Mr Badkar said that on receiving the SOS, Coast Guard immediately pressed 'Kasturba Gandhi' into rescue operation and rescued all the eight crew members from rescue board braving the rough weather.

He said that the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) later had managed to anchor the ship and it would be refuelled soon. Despite the rough sea condition, the Coast Guard was able to return with crew members, he added.

UNI