India to Evacuate Thousands as Cyclone Nears West Coast
Indian authorities are preparing to evacuate 300,000 people along the western coast as a severe cyclone is expected to make landfall on Thursday morning in the state of Gujarat.Storm Vayu, which formed in the Arabian Sea, is likely to cross the Gujarat coast with gust speeds as high as 135 kmph (84 mph), the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.It also warned the cyclone could further delay the progress of the annual monsoon rains over the rest of India, as the storm was drawing rain clouds from over the sea.The arrival of the monsoons on the southern coast of Kerala was already about a week late this year.Gujarat Chief…
India Seizes Merchant Ship Carrying 1,500 kg of Heroin
India's navy seized a ship carrying about 1,500 kg of heroin worth 35 billion rupees ($545 million) on Sunday in what it said was its biggest ever drugs haul. The vessel, which was operating under the name MV Henry under the Panama flag, was intercepted off the Gujarat coast near the city of Porbandar, said S. Paramesh, deputy director general at the Indian Coast Guard. It was sailing from Dubai to Alang, a town in Gujarat known for shipbreaking, Paramesh said. The eight crew members aboard, all of whom were identified as Indian nationals, are under investigation. ($1 = 64.1100 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Additional reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Tom Lasseter and Robin Pomeroy)
Swan Sells 60% of FLNG Terminal Capacity
Indian public sector oild giants Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) have booked 60 per cent of the capacity of Swan Energy Ltd. (SEL)'s upcoming floating Liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal off the Gujarat coast. ONGC, IOC and BPCL have agreed to take one million tonnes per annum capacity each on the 5 million tonnes a year floating LNG terminal planned at Jafrabad port in Gujarat, sources privy to the negotiations said. The upcoming Nikhil Merchant-led company's floating LNG terminal at Gujarat coast, would surge the demand for LNG in western & northern region of India. The project cost is pegged at $837 million.
Indian Coast Guard Medevac Greek Cadet off Gujarat Coast
A Greek Deck cadet onboard an LPG Tanker MT Hellas Serenity on passage from Fujairah to Indonesia was suffering from acute apendicitis 300 NM South West of Gujarat, West Coast of Inda. The Indian Coast Guard received a request from the vessel for medical evacuation. MRCC Mumbai established communication and gave initial medical advice adn administered essential medicines available on-board and directed the ship to proceed towards Porbandar port. The condition of the cadet was continuously monitored by the coast guard doctor stationed at MRCC Mumbai. The Coast Guard air enclave at Porbandar launched an advance light helicopter at 0730…
All Ports In India Alerted On Cyclonic Storm 'Nanauk'
All ports in India have been alerted about the deep depression over east central Arabian Sea has moved slowly westwards, intensified into a cyclonic storm 'NANAUK' and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of today, 11 June 2014 near latitude 16.50 N and longitude 67.20 E, about 660 km southwest of Mumbai, 590 km south-southwest of Veraval and 990km southeast of Masirah Island (Oman). It would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hrs. It would move west-northwestwards towards Oman coast during next 72 hrs. Under the influence of this system, rainfall would occur at most places with isolated heavy falls over coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep during the next 24 hours.
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)
