Indian cargo ship APJ Suryavir back on course after repairs

WASHINGTON - The once-adrift APJ Suryavir, a 740-foot India-flagged bulk carrier suffered engine failure over the weekend, has resumed its voyage to Portland, Oregon after repairing its engines.

The Coast Guard and the bulk carrier Maersk Altair, which had mounted an emergency rescue operation are no longer responding to the ship that ran adrift 544 miles southwest of Adak Island, according to Alaskan KTVA channel.

There have been no reports of any injuries and the Coast Guard plans to keep a communications schedule with the ship and its 28 crewmembers. The vessel lost engine power nearly four days ago and began encountering adverse weather conditions comprised of 30-foot seas and winds in excess of 60 mph causing the vessel to take 45 degree rolls Sunday morning.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre immediately issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast in the area after the captain of the APJ Suryavir requested Coast Guard assistance and was planning to abandon ship, the news channel said.

The bulk carrier vessel Maersk Altair responded to the UMIB and was heading toward the India-flagged vessel before the crew fixed the engines. The Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau, a 378-foot high-endurance cutter homeported in Alameda, California, was also responding.

A Coast Guard C-130 was launched from Air Station Kodiak Sunday night and arrived to monitor the situation of the APJ Suryavir and has since landed at Adak Island. During its return flight back to Kodiak the C-130 crew will pass over the ship to ensure the safety of the crew.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)