Merchant ships collide, crew members rescued

MUMBAI: Two merchant vessels collided this morning off the Mumbai coast resulting in an oil spill from one of the ships, Coast Guard officials said.

33 crew members were rescued following the incident, they said.

According to officials, MSC Chitra and Khalijia-III smashed with each other while sailing in the sea, five nautical miles from the Mumbai shores at 9:50 am.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) here received a call about the collision and the Regional Operational Centre promptly diverted ICG Ship Kamala Devi for assistance and crew members were rescued, an official said.

A helicopter and a ship were pressed into service to check the oil spill, officials said.