The Indian Coast Guard is monitoring for pollution after a general cargo ship sank off New Mangalore.

The 7,100-dwt Princess Miral (built 1990) grounded at Ullal on the south-western coast on 21 June.

All 15 Syrian seafarers on board were taken off the vessel, which eventually sank completely on 23 June.

India mobilised three aircraft and nine ships to the area in case of any oil spill.

A pollution control vessel, the ICGS Samudra Pavak, arrived from Porbandar in Gujarat on Saturday.

Booms have been placed across the river mouth nearby to contain any potential leakage.

Local officials said the Princess Miral was bound from Tianjin in China to Lebanon, with an 8,000-tonne cargo of steel coils, when it began taking on water.

All the seafarers had valid travel documents, police said.

Salvage plan being drawn up

A survey is taking place so that authorities can decide on a salvage plan and possible fuel removal.

The Mangalorean website reported Karnataka coastguard commander SB Venkatesh as saying the ship has 220 tonnes of oil on board.

Only a minor sheen from engine bilges has been observed so far and a spill is assessed as unlikely.

The Princess Miral’s commercial manager is listed as 7 Ocean Shipping of Turkey.

The vessel, classed by Universal Maritime Bureau, has no port state control detentions on its record since 2018.