Indian Coast Guard rescues crew of Maldivian cargo ship

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian Coast Guard today rescued all 11 crew members of a cargo vessel bound for Maldives as it started sinking off the Vizhinjam coast near here.

On getting distress signal from the Maldivian vessel, Coast Guard rushed rescue teams in two ships and saved all the crew members.

The water inside the vessel was pumped out and it is being towed ashore, Coast Guard officials said.

The vessel, carrying food products to Maldives, had set off from the Vizhinjam port last evening. After it sailed for about three hours, it got flooded.

Though the crew members tried to steer the vessel to the shore, their attempts failed and it started sinking.

On getting information, the Coast Guard acted promptly to save the crew and the vessel from about seven nautical miles from here, officials added.