PMSA averts grounding of merchant ship

PMSA ship ‘Kashmir’ escorting the vessel, providing security cover

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) averted a potential grounding of merchant ship close to Pakistan coast near Keti Bandar that developed technical defects during its voyage.

“An LNG tanker Gas Yodla with 17-member crew having developed machinery defect resulting in loss of propulsion was anchored 15 nautical miles (NM) of Keti Bandar on 05 Aug 21,” read a press release.

On August 9, a Pakistan Navy aircraft reported the ship having lost its one anchor, after receiving this information one of the PMSA ship was sailed immediately to render assistance to the vessel in distress.

Realising the potential risk of the ship losing the second anchor, the PMSA coordinated with the ship for immediate towing of the vessel for emergency repair. “The towing dhow Al-Khaleel-III started to take the distressed vessel in tow on close to midnight August 12/13,” it read.

During the recovery of anchor, the statement read that the merchant vessel also lost its second anchor, however, the towing vessel managed to pass the towing rope and started towing the ship.

Presently the ship was in tow and the PMSA ship ‘Kashmir’ was escorting it providing security cover. The ship was also standby to provide towing services in emergency if such situation arises.

“The ship would be berthed at Karachi harbour to affect repairs. The ship which had sailed from Mumbai was heading Jebel Ali of Dubai (UAE),” it read.