Container ship sinks near India - Ukrainians among crew, says Ukraine's Foreign Ministry
Photo: Container ship sank near India, Ukrainians were among the crew (x.com/indiannavy)
Off the coast of India, on May 24, a container ship carrying "hazardous cargo" sank. Among the crew members were Ukrainians, RBC-Ukraine reports, referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
As Yahoo News wrote, the container ship, sailing under the Liberian flag, sank off the coast of Kerala state in southern India. The vessel was en route from the Indian port of Vizhinjam to Kochi and was involved in an accident on May 24.
When naval aircraft took to the sky, they spotted two life rafts at the scene. The container ship was tilted.
"All 24 crew members on board were rescued," stated the Ministry of Defense of India.
The crew included sailors from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and the Philippines.
In total, 640 containers sank, including 13 with hazardous cargo and another 12 with calcium carbide.
"Given the sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala's coast, ICG has activated full pollution response preparedness," the Navy reported.
The container ship was carrying around 370 tons of fuel and oil, though according to the Coast Guard "so far, no oil spill has been reported."
What Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says
"Among the crew members were also citizens of Ukraine. All of them were rescued by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard and are now safe. At present, the rescued crew members are receiving all necessary assistance, including medical services," stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. A request has been sent to the competent Indian authorities to obtain more detailed information.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported that at the end of April in Poland, near the village of Dawidy in the Masovian Voivodeship, two accidents occurred, in which at least one Ukrainian was injured.
