Daijiworld Media Network – (NR)

Mangalore Oct 14: The city Coast Guards here on Saturday, Oct 13 rescued a foreign tugboat sailing with nine starving crew members which had drifted 180 nautical miles away from the New Mangalore Port. The crew members inside were famished and dehydrated as their ration supply had ended and they were in pitiable condition.

A technical snag is understood to have caused the motor tug, to lose control and drift into Lakshadweep waters since October 7.  It was sailing from Sharjah to Singapore with nine Philipinno nationals on board, when it developed problems in its engine, sources here informed.

The beleaguered tugboat was a major hazard not only to the environment around Lakshadweep islands but was also an impediment in the busy navigation channel used by all vessels sailing to South East Asian countries.

It was the timely signal from the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai, who had picked up the distress signals and contacted the city Coast Guards. They immediately pressed their patrol ship ‘Annie Besant’ headed by commandant R U Gundane into service for rescuing the a’drift tugboat, who rushed towards it.

On reaching there after replenishing the ration supply, all nine crew members were rescued and escorted to Mangalore Port on Saturday, Oct 13. The crew members were given medical aid and are reported to be now recovering. Moreover, the damaged tug-boat was being repaired. Thanks to the prompt action taken by the city Coast Guards not only an environmental disaster was averted but even nine precious human lives have been saved.