The Centre on Monday said search operations for the vessel MV Rezzak, with 25 Indian crew on board including 10 from Minicoy island in Lakshadweep, that had gone missing while on its way to Turkey from Russia [Images] on February 18, would continue.

The assurance was given after a five-member Lakshadweep Territorial Congress Committee delegation met Union Ministers A K Antony, Vayalar Ravi, Pranab Mukherjee and E Ahmed at Delhi, its president Moosa Manikfan said.

MV Rezzak, the vessel, was carrying steel billets in bundles from Russia to Bartin Port in Turkey when it lost all contact with tracking centres on February 18.

Manikfan said the delegation also met All India Congress Committee chief Sonia Gandhi [Images], who congratulated the LTCC for winning seven of the 10 seats in the Lakshadweep Pradesh panchayat election.

Sonia and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi [Images] promised the delegation that they would soon visit Lakshadweep, he said.

India will join a global probe into the missing vessel as search and rescue operation entered the third week on Monday.

The directorate general of shipping said an officer would leave for Turkey on March 6 for the purpose after MV Rezzak, registered in Panama, went missing in the high seas on February 18.