News

One killed, four missing as naval vessel sinks outside Vizag harbour

by IBNS 07 Nov 2014, 10:53 am

Visakhapatnam, Nov 6 (IBNS): A small naval auxiliary vessel sunk outside the Visakhapatnam harbour on Thursday left at least one person dead, media reports said.

Altogether four personnel went missing while as many as 23 people were rescued when the vessel started sinking on Thursday evening. 

The vessel reportedly sank to a depth of around 370 metres.

Sources say a crack might have developed into the hull, specifically a recess called the sea chest designed for water intake which resulted in water gushing in and sinking the ship.

“One Navy sailor is dead and four have gone missing after a naval auxiliary ship, Torpedo Recovery Vessel A72, sank outside the Visakhapatnam harbour on Thursday,” reports said.

Efforts are currently underway to rescue the missing personnel of the vessel.

The ship, 23 meters long and 6.5 meters at the beam, was built by Goa Shipyard Limited in 1983, a statement by the Navy said.