Malfunction in Cargo Vessel, All 28 Indian Crew Members Safe

Engine of an Indian bulk cargo freighter failed in very poor weather conditions off the coast of Alaska with 28 crew members on board. All of them are safe after the American Coast Guard pressed emergency services to rescue those on the ship.

Coming from China, APJ Suryavir was possibly on its way towards Portland in the US when the engine of this 740-foot almost empty bulk cargo freighter failed.

The poor weather conditions with stormy sea and winds blowing at a speed of 96 kph made things worse. Presently, it was reported to be south of the Aleutian Island Chain in Alaska.

“There are 28 persons on board. The entire crew is Indian. They are all safe as of now,” Ray Dwyer, Command Duty Officer at Rescue Coordinator Center, US Coast Guard, Juneau, Alaska, was quoted as saying by PTI.

“They have no cargo on board,” he said, adding that this makes the ship imbalanced.

He said that the coast guard got the emergency call from the ship at about 11 am Alaska time and that they were constantly in touch with the crew over satellite phone.

“Currently, we have one of our Coast Guard fixed wing C-130 on scene orbiting the area and they may be able to drop some provisions to them, because they complained of being a little low on food and water; although the ship company denied that claim,” Dwyer said.

The ship company Apeejay Shipping Limited claims that there were plenty of provisions when the ship left China.

The Coast Guard cutter nearest to the cargo is expected to arrive on the scene in about two-and-half days.