Coast Guard vessel tows away malfunctioning tanker from eco- sensitive Nicobar island

PORT BLAIR: An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship has towed away a tanker, containing 910 tonnes of bunker fuel, from waters close to eco-sensitive Katchall Island in the Nicobar archipelago, towards which it was drifting after a total power failure, a statement issued by the maritime force said on Tuesday. The Dubai-bound 'MT Anasthasia-1', with 24 crew members aboard, was posing a danger of running aground, risking oil spillage in the island, after experiencing total power failure since November 19, it said.

In a swift sea-air coordinated operation on November 22, a Coast Guard team from ICG multi-mission vessel 'Vishwast' boarded the 243 m-long tanker, repaired its systems and towed it to safe waters, the statement added.