Little chance of finding missing ship’s crew alive

The possibility of finding any of the 25 Indian sailors aboard cargo vessel M V Rezzak...

The possibility of finding any of the 25 Indian sailors aboard cargo vessel M V Rezzak, that went missing on February 18, alive is bleak, according to the Mumbai-based manning agent Pelican Marine. The 1982-built vessel had set sail with its cargo of steel billets from Novorossisk in Russia, but did not reach its destination — Bartin Limani in Turkey.

“The Marine Rescue and Co-ordination Centre (MRCC), Turkey, has indicated that the ship has sunk. Families of the sailors are being informed. With all reports and statements coming in from MRCC and the Directorate General of Shipping’s office, we can only indicate

that the ship and the crew became a victim of the weather conditions with the strong gale toppling it with force,” said Santosh Biswas, director, Pelican Marine.

Biswas said the insurance company responsible for crew insurance, British Marine, has contacted the Pelican Marine, giving the first indication of the “limited possibility of finding anyone alive”.

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According to an earlier press statement issued by the office of Director General of Shipping, providing information from the MRCC, only a life raft was found and “with nothing else found belonging to M V Rezzak, the search and rescue operations were called off on February 23”.

The International Maritime Bureau, Kuala Lampur, has informed that the location near Turkey where the ship went missing is not known for marine piracy. “We have been informed by the officials that they have appealed to the flag state and coastal authorities at that end to look for any further development, even though the official search and rescue has been called off,” Biswas said.

Relatives of the sailors were waiting at the Pelican Marine office till late on Monday afternoon to get updates. “I now just want the body for the last rites,” said Harish Sharma, whose cousin Pritam Sharma was sailing aboard M V Rezzak. Uday Chauhan, young brother of Hriday Chauhan (29) who had joined as a mechanic, also had to return without getting any update.