Two launches sink in Persian Gulf waters due to bad weather

Originally at http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-16/0605111980121748.htm

Two motor boats, one en route to Bandar Rig in this province from Kuwait and the other vice-versa, sank in Persian Gulf waters on Wednesday due to stormy weather, a local official said here Thursday.

The head of the union of motor boat owners of Gavaneh city, Majid Hedayat, told IRNA that none of the crew or passengers on board the two vessels drowned as a result of their sinking.

However, the cargoes of both boats sank along with them in the waters and were completely lost.

Bandar Rig, a historic port in Ganaveh city, is located north of the city of Bushehr.

Hedayat, moreover, said the first boat sank off Kuwait's shores and its captain and five passengers were saved by Kuwaiti coastguard personnel.

The other boat sank while on its way back to Bandar Rig in Bushehr province.

A tugboat in Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf rescued the five passengers and captain of the boat.

Hedayat said local officials were still assessing the amount of damage caused by the boats' sinking.