MANGALURU: Fifteen Syrian mariners, who were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard from a foreign flag ship MV Princess Miral, which ran aground off New Mangalore on Tuesday, were handed over to the Panambur police.
City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said that they will be kept in a hostel in coordination with the district social welfare officer, and later sent to the detention centre, Nelamangala. After an order from the bureau of immigration, they will be repatriated to Syria through their embassy. However, a decision on the vessel is expected to be taken soon. The vessel carrying 8,000 tonnes of steel coil was bound for Lebanon from Malaysia. The crew of the grounded vessel had abandoned the ship, due to a breach in the hull, and ingress of water in holds, sources said.
Environmentalists have expressed concern about a probable oil spill, and threat to the environment, if quick action is not taken, as the ship is carrying about 180 tonnes of diesel, and 60 tonnes of fuel oil.
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