Cargo vessel goes missing in stormy sea

Cargo vessel goes missing in stormy sea

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 27, 2011: A cargo vessel MSV Al-ASKAR, which left Mangalore Old Port on Nov 24, is believed to have drowned in the stormy seas along with its crew of six. 

 

Naval aircraft and ships have already launched a search operation. 

Captain Shankara had anchored the ship on Saturday evening around half a nautical mile from Amini Island, Lakshadweep, which is around 304kms to the southwest of Mangalore. Mustafa Shafi of Bengre Kasaba, the owner of the ship, said that Shankara had called him via mobile phone at 5:40 a.m. and urged him to send a rescue team as the ship was in serious trouble. 

Accordingly, a rescue team rushed to the spot in speed boats, searched for the cargo vessel for nearly half an hour and declared that the ship has gone missing. 

Mustafa stated that half the goods on board the ship had been unloaded on Saturday evening to enable the vessel to reach the shore. The captain had dropped 3 anchors and was waiting to unload some more goods on another boat. But the sea had suddenly turned stormy, putting the ship in trouble. 

The ship’s crew comprised Captain Shankar of Calicut and five Gujarathi sailors.