Ship with 580 stuck off Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Andamans-bound pa-ssenger vessel MV Harsha Vardhana is stranded on the high seas since Tuesday night, around 14 nautical miles off Vizag due to a snag in one of the engine generators.

The ship is likely to be brought back to Vizag harbour. Officials said there are around 580 passengers — including women and children — in the ship. Vizag port authorities said the ship’s captain has not asked for any assistance and is confident of rectifying the snag.

The ship, belonging to the SCI, had sailed from Vizag port on Tuesday. The vessel’s crew had told passengers that the snag would be rectified soon. But when they woke up in the morning, they realised the crew had been unable to rectify the snag.

 “We thought it was a routine snag. But when we woke up in the morning, we were at the same place where the ship was anchored last night. It takes two and half days for us to reach Port Blair and now two days have passed. Some people on board cannot be on the seas for more than three days due to sea sickness,” passenger B. Appala Naidu, said.  “When we contacted the master, he said they can rectify the snag themselves. One of the four generators malfunctioned. There is electricity as three generators are working,” Port Trust official P.L. Harnadh said.