SOS sent by Nand Kawas results in rescue

MV Nand Kawas, owned by Essar shipping was stranded 180 nautical miles off Visakhapatnam coast during the recent cyclone. The vessel was heading towards Hazira from Visakhapatnam carrying iron ore. After knowing about the impending cyclone, the captain of the ship D. D Mckenzie decided to turn back to Vizag but the cyclone changed its course and the ship was caught badly in the storm.

Their SOS was picked up by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) at Chennai and Visakhapatnam. Immediately the Coast Guard Ship Vijaya was sent from Chennai as it was not possible to send a ship from Vizag. According to the commanding officer of Vijaya, Commandant V.S.R Murthy, all the thirteen crew members were sitting on the bridge of the ship as the vessel was partially submerged on the port side.  Life boats were used by the crew members after abandoning the ship.

Once aboard CGS Vijaya, the members of MV Nand Kawas who had a close brush with death were joyful as well as profoundly thankful to the Coast Guard. Overwhelmed by emotion they hugged one another while some had tears of joy trickling down. While the number thirteen is widely acknowledged as being unlucky, in this case it definitely proved to be otherwise!