Vizhinjam: A foreign bitumen tanker stranded at sea for five days due to a technical issue resumed its journey with the assistance of the Kerala Maritime Board's Vizhinjam officials on Tuesday. The vessel, YLW, was travelling from the Haldia Dock Complex in Kolkata to Sharjah when a faulty fuel pump forced it to anchor at sea.

The ship’s captain and Thiruvananthapuram-based shipping agency Dowins Resources sought help from the Maritime Board. Since the vessel was anchored 14 nautical miles away, a tug was deployed to deliver the replacement fuel pump.

At 8 pm on Monday, the Maritime Board's tug carrying the pump reached the stranded ship. The pump was then transferred from the tug to the vessel using the ship’s large crane. Following the repair, the tanker resumed its journey towards Sharjah around midnight on Tuesday.

The mission was led by Deputy Director of Ports and Chief Examiner Captain Aswani Prathap K, along with Purser S. Vinulal and Engineer Mariapron. Officials confirmed that the Maritime Board earned ₹75,000 for the assistance provided.