All 28 Indian crew members onboard a bulk cargo freighter, whose engine failed in very poor weather conditions off the coast of Alaska, were safe as the American Coast Guard pressed emergency services to rescue those on the ship.
APJ Suryavir was coming from China and possibly headed towards Portland in the United States when the engine of this 740-foot almost empty bulk cargo freighter failed. What made the matter worse was the poor weather condition with stormy sea and winds blowing at a speed of 96 kph.
Currently 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, told PTI over phone.
"They have no cargo on board," he said, adding that this makes the ship imbalanced.
The coast guard received the emergency call from the ship about 11 am Alaska time, he said, adding that they were in constant communication 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.
{{/usCountry}}"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.
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