Operation on to save stranded LPG ship

PANAJI: Three tugs commissioned by salvors arrived Sunday evening from Singapore to help pull LPG tanker ship Kew Bridge, which ran aground eight miles off the Ratnagiri coast on Friday, to safety.

Deputy Inspector General RM Sharma, commandant, coast guard, told DNA that the massive tanker (159m x 21m) carrying 8,798 metric tones of LPG, is registered in Kingston, St. Vincent Island.

The crew of 22 consisting Russian and Philipinos was safe, Sharma said. Incessant rains and inclement weather caused the tanker to run aground within the Ratnagiri harbour, it is learnt.

The vessel ran aground on Friday at around 5 pm. But it is learnt that the coast guard was not notified. “We found out from third party sources yesterday,” a coast guard official said adding that three of its men were sent out on a rescue mission late last night. On Sunday, a helicopter was sent out from the coast guard’s base in Goa to join the rescue mission.

While it is still not clear from where the tanker was coming from, her destination was Ratnagiri. “It could have been an explosive situation not only because the tanker was carrying LPG but with its size it must have been carrying 1000 litres of fuel to propel it,” said a coast guard official. However with the salvage team reaching this evening, disaster has been averted. Two more tugs have been commissioned to drag the tanker back into the harbour.