Simplified Wreck Survey
UK Hydrographic Office wreck report and historical survey details for the underwater wreck ORIENTAL PEARL located at coordinates 18 50.683 N, 72 45.243 E near Prongs Reef Lighthouse and Mumbai Harbour. The vessel sank on August 23, 1984, initially marked by green conical light buoys. Historical records note that the Indian survey vessel Hari Prasad subsequently struck the wreck in April 1985, coming to rest embedded on top of the Oriental Pearl with a least depth over the wrecks recorded at 6.1 meters and masts showing. The site was also struck by the MV Maersk Radio in September 1985, resulting in lost containers and subsequent navigation cautions. Salvage operations were conducted, and by May 1988, the wrecks, associated navigational buoys, and chart notes were officially removed and deleted following the completion of salvage work.
Surveying Details
H3449/80 23.8.84 SANK IN 234DEGS, 3.5M FROM PRONGS REEF LTHO. (LL,15.8.84). SANK IN 185038N, 724506E APPROX. WILL BE MARKED BY LT BUOYS. (HYDROPAC 1084/84(63). NAVAREA VIII 492/84 REFERS. NCA YET. H3449/80 5.9.84 G CONL LT BUOY, FL.G.5S, ESTABLISHED IN 185054N, 724518E [IND]. (SHELLIMAR, LONDON, TELEX 4.9.84 & NAVAREA VIII 572/84). H3449/80 17.9.84 NOW IN 185048N, 724521E [IND], OR 234DEGS, 3.2M FROM PRONGS LTHO. (NAVAREA VIII 532/84). NCA YET. H3449/80 27.9.84 G CONICAL LT BUOY, FL.G.5S.3M, ESTABLISHED IN 185054N, 724518E [IND]. (TELEX SHELLIMAR LONDON 4.9.84). - NM 2704(P)/84. H3449/80 15.10.84 NOW IN 185036N, 724521E [IND]. (DEHRA DUN NM 416(T) & 447(T)/84. NCA. H3449/80 6.11.84 SANK IN 185054N, 724518E [IND]. (LL, 25.10.84). NCA YET. H3449/80 5.12.84 ST IN 185036N, 724520.5E [IND]. (DEHRA DUN NM 483/84). G CONL LT BUOY, Q.G, ESTABLISHED IN 185054N, 724518E [IND]. (DEHRA DUN NM 510/84). - NM 194/85. H3449/80 7.2.85 BUOY NOW FL.G.5S, IN 185044N, 724511.5E [IND]. (NAVAREA VIII 017/85). NCA YET. H3449/80 11.3.85 WK MOVED 1.8C NW TO 185042N, 724512E [IND], & BUOY MOVED 1.8C SE TO 185045N, 724524E [IND]. (DEHRA DUN NM 33/85). BR STD. H2883/85 29.4.85 INDIAN SV HARI PRASAD [WK NO.44282] LIES ADJACENT TO ORIENTAL PEARL AFTER STRIKING IT. (DEHRA DUN NM 93/85). INS LEGEND 'WKS' AGAINST CHARTED SYMBOL. BR STD. H3449/80 30.4.85 BUOY MOVED TO 185043N, 724511E [IND]. (DEHRA DUN NM 92/85). CLOSE NW OF WK. - NM 1275/85. H3449/80 23.9.85 WK STRUCK BY MV MAERSK RADIO WHEN ENTERING HARBOUR 2.9.85. 14 CONTAINERS LOST. PRESUMED SUNK IN VICINITY. (LL, 4.9.85). OBSTNS REPORTED IN VICINITY. (NAV VIII 469). NCA. H3992/85 14.11.85 VESSELS CAUTIONED NOT TO PASS S OF WK. (DEHRA DUN NM 18/85, CAUTION). NCA, COVERED BY NOTE IN TITLE. H0004/86 28.4.86 SALVAGE OPS IN PROGRESS. (DEHRA DUN NM 170(T)/86 & LL,19.3.86). NCA YET. H3992/85 12.8.87 LEAST DEPTH OBTAINED OVER WK IN 1985 WAS 6.1MTRS. WK OF HARI PRASAD EMBEDDED ON TOP OF ORIENTAL PEARL. (INDIAN HYDRO, 31.7.87). NCA YET. H3449/80 10.11.87 LEAST DEPTH 6.1MTRS IN 185038N, 724517E [IND]. HARI PRASAD IN 185042N, 724515E [IND], WITH MAST SHOWING. (DEHRA DUN NM 416/87). AMEND TO DWP MAST 6.1MTRS IN 185040N, 724516E. RETAIN LEGEND WKS. - NM 3560/87. H3992/85 2.12.87 SALVAGE OPS IN PROGRESS. (NAV VIII 558/87). NCA. H3992/85 10.2.88 WK REMOVED AND BUOY WITHDRAWN. (LL, 15.1.88 & NAV VIII 20/88). NCA YET. H3992/85 17.5.88 SALVAGE OPS COMPLETE. BUOY REMOVED. (DEHRA DUN NM 148/88). AMENDED TO LIFT. DELETED WK, BUOY AND NOTE IN TITLE. - NM 1690/88.
Circumstances of loss
BUILT IN 1971 BY KURUSHIMA DOCK CO LTD. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY BY SEAPRINCE SHIPPING INC. PASSAGE BANDAR ABBAS FOR JAPAN. REPORTED LEAKAGE IN NOS.1,2 & 3 HOLDS DUE TO HEAVY WEATHER DAMAGE. WAS ABANDONED BY CREW AND LATER SANK WHILE AT ANCHOR IN ENTRANCE TO BOMBAY HBR. (MSD).