Sri Lankan fishermen find missing Indian vessel en route to Maldives
The vessel had lost all communication with Indian authorities and its operator after departure
MSV Maria Iruthaya Robert Vijay is a mechanized sailing vessel
A south Indian vessel that left for the Maldives earlier this month before going missing has been found by a group of Sri Lankan fishermen.
The ‘MSV Maria Iruthaya Robert Vijay’ left the Tuticorin port in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on October 14th. Hours after its departure, authorities had lost all communication with the vessel.
The vessel’s operator and families of crew members had also asked naval authorities in Tuticorin to help search for the vessel.
The Indian government revealed on Saturday that a group of Sri Lankan fishermen had reported sighting the vessel and reported it to their Coast Guard.
A Sri Lankan rescue ship had picked up the crew 65 nautical miles off of the southwestern Galle city, and the vessel has been hauled into the city’s harbour.
The Indian government had released the names of the crew members along with their ages. It was captained by 39-year-old Ranjith.
The vessel had been loaded with 50 tonnes of fertilizing substances and 17 tonnes of vegetables.
