SCI's offshore vessel sinks at Bombay High, no casualties

Mumbai, Nov 21 : An offshore support vessel of the Shipping Corporation of India sank in the ONGC fields at Bombay High here on Tuesday evening. There are no casualties, official sources said.

The incident occurred when a pipe burst in the main engine room of the vessel, SCI RATNA, which was anchored at Bombay High, around 5.30 pm.

As the vessel started going under water, around 175 km northwest of Mumbai in the Arabian sea, all crew, numbering around two dozen, were ordered to evacuate.

The crew was later rescued by another offshore vessel in the vicinity, Great Ship "PRACHI", the sourses told IANS.

The sunken vessel was described as relatively new, having been in SCI service for less than a decade.

The Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, ordered a probe.