Foreign ship crew members saved in southern Iran

Bandar Abbas, March 19, IRNA – Crew members of a cargo ship which sank in this southern Iran port on Tuesday morning were saved, director general of port and maritime organization of Hormuzgan Province Allah Morad Afifipour announced. Timely presence of the Iranian maritime search and rescue teams led to rescue of 14 ship-crew members who are foreign nationals, Afifipour told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). A merchant vessel loaded with 153 containers went down in Shahid Rajaei Port, south of Iran, Tuesday morning. The SL STAR vessel which had been under Comoran flag was getting berthed in the Iranian port when it started sinking, Afifipour said. Three of the injured crew members have been transferred to hospital, the official added. Experts are investigating the reason behind the incident, he said. Shahid Rajaei Port is the biggest and the most equipped Bandar of its kind that covers 80 percent of container operations in Iran. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish