The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued 19 crew members from a bitumen tanker that sank off the Ratnagiri coast, on September 16.
Crew of the ship first contacted rescue authorities in Mumbai, after which a helicopter winched 18 Indians and the Ethiopian master from lifeboats, 41 nautical miles offshore.
The Gabon-flag tanker sank later that evening.
The ship was operated by Safe Seas Ship Management of Sharjah, and was carrying 3,911 tonnes of cargo from New Mangalore in India to Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates.
According to information, water had leaked into one of its compartments. During the incident, two ICG ships diverted to the scene and warnings were relayed to other merchant vessels in the area.
Another container vessel was also directed to proceed to the site.
The ICG and India’s shipping ministry have now started an investigation into the cause of the water ingress.
