Prathibha Cauvery, an Indian flag vessel with 37 crew members on board, has ran aground this afternoon following strong winds due to the cyclone Nilam.
The ship was in the Chennai port’s outer anchorage since yesterday afternoon, but drifted ashore at 14.21 hrs. following heavy winds of nearly 100 kmph.
The ship is currently sighted at Besant Nagar beach in South Chennai, and is lying 3.50 nautical miles south off the port.
The ship is carrying two tonne of light diesel oil and 355 tonne of furnace oil.
About 20 crew members jumped in to the water to take the life boat. However, the boat capsized and the crew members are in water trying to swim ashore. Coast Guard and local fishermen are trying to rescue them, according to a senior Chennai Port Trust official who is involved in the rescue. The ship was sighted from Besant Nagar.