Update 2: Maltese tug towing 'sinking' ship to Malta

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A Maltese tug boat is towing the Cambodian-registered bulk carrier Maystar to Malta after it was abandoned by its crew yesterday afternoon as it listed and was in danger of sinking.

In the meantime, 11 of the 16 crew members are expected to be on their way home to India today following arrangements by the India's consul to Malta, Yohan Cuschieri.

Mr Cuschieri told timesofmalta.com that unless there were immigration problems, the 11 Indians would be boarding the Emirates flight for Dubai from where they would continue on to India today. The other five crew members are Bangladeshi.

If this was not possible, they would be hosted in a hotel until all the necessary arrangments were made. All expenses are being borne by the consulate and the government of India.

Mr Cushcieri thanked the Armed Forces of Malta for saving the crew and hosting them last night.

Sources said the tug Ramla Bay managed to tow the ship some 10 miles overnight and it is now approaching Malta. The harbour master is assessing the condition of the vessel.

The ship was abandoned by its crew some 26 miles off Delimara after a suspected fault in its ballast tanks caused it to list and take on water.

The crew were picked up from life rafts by the MV Sea Flower which later transferred them to the AFM launch Melita II which brought them to Malta.

But their problems were not over yet. The ship's agents in Malta reportedly refused to take responsibility for them, and, in a spirit of solidarity, the soldiers of the Maritime Squadron collected blankets and provided food and quarters for the crew at the maritime base.