Indian Coastguard Rescues Vessel Crew

The Indian Coastguard rescued and evacuated 25 crewmembers of a Panama merchant vessel near Porbandar. The crewmembers of M.V. Christena-II that had run aground off the Porbandar coast were evacuated on July 28, according to Indo-Asian News Service. The 492 ft.-vessel was laden with 180 tons of marine gas oil and 40 tons of high-speed diesel. It ran aground after main engine failure following rough weather in the Gujarat coast. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, Mumbai, and the Maritime Rescue Sub Center, Porbandar, picked up distress signals from the Panamanian vessel. The Porbandar authorities were alerted and a coastguard team brought the crewmembers to the shore. The crew was then handed over to the police for further investigation. (Source: Indo-Asian News Service)