Mumbai: Lady Thuraya , a yacht sailing from Male to Salalah in Oman with four crew, was rescued by an UAE-bound merchant vessel that responded to a search and rescue mission launched by the Indian Coast Guard. Officials said Lady Thuraya had lost engine power and had been drifting on the Arabian Sea for three days.
An Indian Coast Guard spokesperson said on May 31, the 27-metre-long classic schooner registered in the British Virgin Islands developed engine trouble and began drifting around 590 nautical miles off the Indian coast. Strong winds and heavy swell made the sea all the more unsuitable for the yacht, which sent out a distress call seeking immediate assistance.
In response, the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai raised an International Safety Net message and ships in the vicinity were requested to look for the distressed yacht. Four merchant ships passing near the location of the sailing boat participated in a thorough search of the area coordinated by the MRCC.
On June 3, at the end of a search which lasted three days, the MV Seacor Diamond located Lady Thuraya around 390 nautical miles southwest off Mumbai. All four crew members were said to be safe. The Seacor Diamond towed it to Mumbai.
Lady Thuraya arrived at Mumbai anchorage at 2.30 pm on June 7. It was then towed to the Mumbai inner anchorage by tug boat Shivali , arranged for by the yacht’s owners. Indian Coast Guard Ship Agrim escorted the vessel till the mouth of Mumbai harbour. The yacht was later docked at Indira Dock on Thursday.
A Coast Guard spokesperson said the yacht will undergo engine repairs in Mumbai and resume her passage thereafter.
