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Indian ship stranded near Alaska repaired, crew members safe

December 22, 2009 12:50 IST

All 28 Indian crew members onboard a crippled bulk cargo freighter, which was stranded in mid-sea, on Tuesday left for their destination of Portland after the vessel's engine was repaired.

"They (crew) did not abandon the ship. They repaired the vessel and are currently underway headed to Portland, Oregon," said Sean Terry, an officer of the United States Coast Guard.

"All are fine. No one is injured. Everybody remained on board," Terry said. Earlier, the crew of APJ Suryavir, the ship in distress, had planned to abandon the ship in stormy seas and fierce winds.

APJ Suryavir was coming from China and headed towards Portland when the engine of this 740-foot bulk cargo freighter failed. What made the matter worse was the poor weather condition with stormy sea and winds blowing at a speed of 96 kmph.

On Sunday, the master of the ship had sought emergency help from the US Coast Guard as the ship went adrift off the coast of Alaska. The engine of the ship was repaired by engineers on board at about 8:20 am local time.

Lalit K Jha In Washington
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