COAST GUARD STABILISES DISTRESSED TANKER, SAVES 23 CREW OFF ODISHA COAST

September 28, 2026

The Indian Coast Guard rescued 23 crew members after a Belize-flagged chemical tanker developed serious mechanical and flooding problems off Odisha’s Paradip coast.

The vessel, MT Seagull 9, issued a distress call on September 27 after its main engine failed and water began entering a ballast tank, causing the tanker to tilt dangerously. It was located around 37 nautical miles east-southeast of Paradip while carrying about 9,000 metric tonnes of palm oil.

The Coast Guard deployed ICGS Vishwast, whose specialist damage-control team boarded the vessel and used submersible pumps to remove the accumulated water. Damaged seawater pipelines were also sealed to contain the flooding and restore the vessel’s stability.

Additional Coast Guard vessels and an aircraft were deployed for pollution monitoring and surveillance. A minor palm-oil sheen detected near the tanker subsequently dissipated, according to the Coast Guard.

After the tanker was stabilised, the Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin towed it towards an anchorage area off Paradip, where repairs to its main engine are underway with technical assistance from the Coast Guard.