Ghana-registered ship sinks off Pakistan coast

(KARACHI) A Ghana-registered cargo ship bound for a Middle East port sank in rough seas off the Pakistani coast, slightly injuring some of its 15 crew members who were rescued by an oil tanker, an official said yesterday.

The Al Garhoud went down on Monday in the Arabian Sea, about 50 km west of the Pakistani port of Karachi, said Capt Mohammed Tahseenullah of the Pakistani coast guard.

Capt Tahseenullah said high waves poured water into the ship, which later developed engine trouble. The ship's crew was rescued by a passing oil tanker before it sank, he said.

The sunken ship was loaded with animal feed and fruit and was heading to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Maqsood Hussain, the administrator of a seaside residential area in Karachi, said authorities closed the beach for three days to clean up oil and debris from the sunken ship, Pakistan's Geo television channel reported.