Mangaluru, May 16 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued six crew members of the cargo vessel MSV SALAMATH, which sank in the early hours of May 14, approximately 60 to 70 nautical miles southwest of Mangaluru, an official statement said on Friday.

The rescued crew members have been identified as Ismail Shareef, Alemun Ahmed Bhai Ghavda, Kakal Suleman Ismail, Akbar Abdul Surani, Kasam Ismail Mepani, and Azmal. The men had abandoned the sinking vessel and managed to embark on a small dinghy before being sighted by a passing ship.

At 1215 hours on May 14, ICG received a distress alert from MT Epic Susui, a transiting vessel, reporting the sighting of a small boat adrift with six survivors on board, approximately 52 nautical miles off the coast of Surathkal in Karnataka.

ICG Ship Vikram, which was on routine patrol in the area, was immediately diverted to the location. The Coast Guard team swiftly located the dinghy and safely recovered all six crew members.

According to preliminary information, MSV SALAMATH had departed Mangalore Port on May 12 en route to Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep, carrying a consignment of cement and other construction material. The vessel began taking in water around 0530 hours on May 14, eventually leading to its sinking.

The survivors were administered first aid and transported safely to New Mangalore Port, where they arrived on May 15. Local authorities are expected to conduct further inquiries to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the incident.

The cause of the flooding remains unknown and is under investigation, the Coast Guard added.

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