Ship sinks without damaging oil rig, crew rescued

A disabled merchant vessel today sank near an ONGC platform in Bombay High without damaging the oil rig and its 28-member crew was rescued in a joint operation by the Navy and Coast Guard.

The cargo vessel MV Oel Vision passed clear of the rig and sank early today and there was no damage to any installation, an official statement said.

The ship, carrying 268 containers, had been stranded nearly a nautical mile from the oil platform and had posed a threat to the rig, the statement said. The Navy had yesterday considered the option of sinking the vessel to avert a collision with the rig.