Navy rescues SCI ship in pacific ocean

Indian Naval ships, which are on an overseas deployment to Southeast and Fareast Asia, received distress call from Shipping Corporation of India Ship 'MV Maharashtra' while on transit from Singapore to Japan. The beleaguered ship, in position 270 nautical miles northeast of Ho Chi Minh city, was on passage from Tianjin, China to Bander Imam Khomeini in Iran and was without any power supply due to failure of her Main Diesel Alternators. Attempts by the crew of the merchant vessel to restore the power supply were unsuccessful.

On receipt on distress message, INS Rana was promptly despatched to provide necessary assistance to the vessel at 0700 h (Indian Standard Time) today morning.

The ship reached the area at 0830 h (Indian Standard Time) and a technical team comprising 10 naval personnel were transferred by helicopter and boat to the merchant vessel for rendering assistance. The Naval team quickly rectified the diesel alternators enabling restoration of power supply on board the merchant ship. During the defect rectification, it was also observed that the fuel tanks supplying the diesel fuel to the alternators were contaminated. Supply of fresh fuel was essential to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

In an unprecedented operation at sea for which the warships are not designed, INS Rana went along side the stricken merchant ship and supplied 10 tons of fuel to enable 'MV Maharashtra' to continue on her passage.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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