ONGC vessel sinks: 9 rescued, 5 missing

Five employees of a private company went missing after an ONGC-owned offshore supply vessel OSV, Samudrika 10, sank off the western coast at 12.30 pm on Monday

Five employees of a private company went missing after an ONGC-owned offshore supply vessel OSV, Samudrika 10, sank off the western coast at 12.30 pm on Monday, taking the total number of monsoon-related untoward incidents to 15 this year. Even as nine crew members were rescued and later brought to the shore, unconfirmed reports said more than five people could be missing.

An ONGC source added there could be more people on board the OSV than what was listed in its manifest, which will be 8220;looked into8221;.

According to ONGC officials, all the crew were employees of SICAL Logistics who worked on monthly shifts on the manned ONGC installations to supply necessities. OSV Samudrika 10 was one of the 15 vessels that SICAL had won in a tender from ONGC for operations and maintenance in 2003.

According to a statement issue by Coast Guard, 8220;The OSV sank 120 km north-west of Bombay High due to flooding on board.8221;

N K Mitra, Director Offshore for ONGC, said the vessel sank near B55 rig field of Bombay High. 8220;The ONGC pressed its rescue helicopter into service immediately. Later, Coast Guard8217;s Dornier from Daman and a Navy helicopter also joined the rescue operation.8221;

The Coast Guard statement said, 8220;Crew members were rescued by other offshore vessels operating in the vicinity, including Nand Panna, Sindhu-9 and Disha. Coast Guard ships Sangram and Samar were also sailed for rescue.8221; Navy8217;s Sea King helicopter also joined the rescue team, the statement added.

ONGC chairman and Managing Director R S Sharma told reporters that he was 8220;highly distressed with the news8221; and was 8220;waiting to hear that everyone is rescued safely8221;.

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While the rescue teams were initially told that five people were missing, around 5.30 pm another input said there could have been more than 14 people on board.

A member of the rescue team said on condition of anonymity, 8220;We were told around sunset that the number of personnel on board could have been around 17 so the number of missing could be more.8221; Western Region Coast Guard chief Rajshekhar said, 8220;We have vague reports that more than five people could be missing.8221;

The Coast Guard said the rescued crew was shifted to oil control platform Sagar Gaurav and later brought to shore. The rescue operation will continue throughout the night, the Coast Guard said.