# Indian Coast Guard Averts Major Disaster off Odisha Coast, Secures Distressed Foreign Tanker and 23 Crew Members > A swift rescue and salvage operation by the Indian Coast Guard saved the Belize-flagged MT Seagull 9, laden with 9,000 metric tonnes of palm oil and 23 crew members, after engine failure caused severe flooding near Paradip. **Type:** article · **Category:** Odisha · **Published:** 2026-09-29 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/odisha/odisha-tata-ke-pasa-samudra-men-snkata-men-phnse-videshi-tainkara-aura-23-kru-sadasyon-ko-indian-coast-guard-ne-surakshita-bachaya-40017 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Indian Coast Guard, Paradip, Odisha, Maritime Rescue, ICGS Vishwast, Palm Oil A critical maritime catastrophe was successfully averted off the Odisha coast following a rapid emergency response by the Indian Coast Guard. The Belize-flagged commercial tanker MT Seagull 9, transporting 9,000 metric tonnes of industrial palm oil along with 23 crew members, suffered an engine shutdown that led to rapid flooding and a dangerous tilt in open waters. Swift intervention by maritime emergency teams stabilised the foreign vessel, neutralised structural breaches, and eliminated the threat of capsizing and ecological contamination. ## Distress Alert Triggered After Engine Failure The operational crisis unfolded on September 27 at a location roughly 37 nautical miles east-south-east of Paradip. The vessel was underway when an urgent distress signal was broadcast at around 7:30 am. According to transmissions from the ship, the main propulsion engine abruptly failed, leaving the vessel powerless amid ocean currents. Simultaneously, seawater began rushing uncontrolled into the ballast tanks, severely destabilising the hull and causing the tanker to list heavily to one side, raising immediate fears of a total capsize. ## ICGS Vishwast Deployed for Damage Control Upon receiving the distress call, the Indian Coast Guard directed its patrol vessel ICGS Vishwast to rush toward the coordinates. On arriving at the unstable ship, a specialised damage-control boarding party embarked onto the listing tanker despite hazardous conditions. Technicians quickly deployed submersible de-flooding pumps and high-capacity extraction hardware to remove trapped seawater from the compartments. The inspection team pinpointed three fractured conduits, immediately shutting down two compromised seawater pipelines and securing a third broken line to halt further internal flooding. ## Cargo Rebalancing and Marine Pollution Containment To restore equilibrium to the tilted tanker, personnel initiated an internal cargo redistribution plan while simultaneously draining flooded compartments. Seamless coordination between the salvage specialists and the vessel's 23 mariners gradually righted the ship, eliminating the risk of structural collapse. Given the significant environmental danger posed by 9,000 metric tonnes of cargo, authorities dispatched a dedicated pollution-control vessel alongside an additional offshore patrol ship to form a protective perimeter and monitor local waters. ## Aerial Surveillance and Towing to Anchorage Airborne tracking was launched using a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft operating out of Bhubaneswar to inspect the sea surface for petroleum or oil sheens. While an extremely faint trace of palm oil was spotted in the immediate vicinity on September 27, subsequent aerial sorties on September 28 confirmed that the sheen had completely dissipated without harming the marine ecosystem. Once the vessel was certified seaworthy and balanced, Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin towed MT Seagull 9 to a designated outer anchorage. Onboard technical teams from ICGS Vishwast remain engaged in assisting with the overhaul of the main engine while maintaining persistent operational monitoring. ## What this means for you The decisive salvage operation prevented an ecological catastrophe while ensuring uninterrupted maritime traffic along the eastern seaboard. - **Across India:** Neutralising the threat of a 9,000-tonne cargo spill safeguards marine ecosystems and reinforces the operational readiness of India's coastal response infrastructure. Commercial shipping corridors along the Bay of Bengal remain fully secure and accessible. - **In Odisha:** Coastal fisheries and sensitive marine life near Paradip avoided catastrophic exposure to industrial oil runoff. Port operations and local fishing communities can continue their daily routines without environmental hazards. - **Crew Safety:** All 23 mariners aboard the stricken vessel were secured without injury or loss of life during the operation. Rapid engineering support stabilized their living quarters and preserved the vessel's integrity. - **Maritime Traffic:** Towing the immobilized vessel to an outer anchorage eliminated navigation hazards along the Paradip approach lanes. Regional cargo transport schedules remain completely unaffected. ## Why this happened A sudden main engine failure coupled with fractured seawater pipelines triggered severe flooding in the vessel's ballast tanks. - **Propulsion System Failure:** The tanker's primary engine unexpectedly shut down while navigating open waters, completely depriving the ship of operational power and manoeuvrability. This sudden shutdown initiated the critical onboard crisis. - **Pipeline Ruptures:** Structural failures caused two internal seawater pipelines to burst, accompanied by a leak in a third conduit. This allowed immense volumes of ocean water to pour continuously into the lower ballast compartments. - **Dangerous Hull Listing:** The rapid asymmetric accumulation of seawater severely upset the vessel's centre of gravity, causing it to list at a perilous angle. The immediate deployment of submersible extraction pumps counteracted the flooding before the hull could overturn. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What flag was MT Seagull 9 sailing under and what cargo was it transporting? The commercial tanker was operating under the flag of Belize and was carrying approximately 9,000 metric tonnes of palm oil. ### 2. Where and when did the maritime emergency take place? The incident occurred on September 27 in the Bay of Bengal, roughly 37 nautical miles east-south-east of Paradip, Odisha. ### 3. How many crew members were onboard the distressed vessel? There were 23 crew members on board, all of whom were safely rescued and supported without injury. ### 4. Why did the tanker begin listing dangerously to one side? The ship suffered a sudden main engine shutdown while fractured seawater pipelines caused rapid uncontrolled flooding inside its ballast tanks. ### 5. Which Indian Coast Guard assets were involved in the rescue operation? The operation deployed ICGS Vishwast, a specialized damage-control team, a pollution-control vessel, an offshore patrol vessel, and a Dornier aircraft from Bhubaneswar. ### 6. Was there any lasting marine pollution detected from the incident? A slight sheen observed on September 27 completely cleared by September 28, with subsequent aerial surveillance confirming zero residual environmental impact. ### 7. Where is the tanker located following the salvage operation? The vessel was towed by Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin to a designated anchorage outside Paradip for engine repairs. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._