More than four people continue to be missing after ONGC’s offshore supply vessel (OSV) Samudrika-10 sank off the coast of Mumbai at 12.30 p.m. on Monday. The ship sank 56 nautical miles off coast near the Bassein and Satellite gas field of ONGC.

Reports, though unconfirmed by the company, indicate that rough seas may have caused the sinking of the vessel.

Talking to Business Line the ONGC Chairman and Managing Director, Mr R.S. Sharma, said “Of the 14 people on board, nine were rescued immediately. Search and rescue operations are on for others. A helicopter and three vessels have been pressed into service to locate the missing.”

In last fours years this is the third major accident. Samudrika-10 was owned by ONGC and SICAL was looking after operations and maintenance, Mr Sharma said. He said Samudrika-10 was commissioned in 1986 and went for a dry-dock maintenance in February 2006. The next dry-dock maintenance was scheduled in November 2008. The vessel sailed from Nava Sheva on July 6 under sea-worthy conditions with all required fitness certificates and statutory requirement. The offshore supply vessel was on high sea near Sagar Gaurav rig in the Bassein fields when water crept in, he said.

A spokesperson for the company said that divers and doctors have also been sent to the accident site to help in the rescue operation. The operation will continue through the night.