Cargo m/v "Maria S" sank in K

[Timsen]

ochiThe Panama-registered cargo ship "Maria S" sank off Kochi on June 30. The "Maria S"', on way from China to Albania with a consignment of steel billets and trucks, sank some eight and a half km from Kochi i nthe evening, after developing a leakage in its hull. 15 crew members were rescued by a Cochin Port Trust (CPT) tug and brought ashore. The sailors, found to be fit after a medical check up last night, had been handed over to the agents of the ship. Coast Guard officials said no oil spill had been detected from the ship. The ship is believed to have been carrying 40 tonnes of gas oil and two tonnes of lube oil.
The bow of the ship had touched the sea floor in the shallow area in which it sank and only the navigation bridge was visible. It is possible to salvage the cargo, but it will be for the ship's agents and owners to decide whether it would be worthwhile to salvage the cargo. The ship was steered out of the port's channels by the CPT rescue team. The port's channels were thus clear and there was no obstruction to traffic, port officials said.