The Indian Coast Guard rescued all 20 crew members of a Philippine cargo vessel stranded in the Bay of Bengal on Thursday evening. The ship suffered engine failure amid rough seas and ran aground near Antarvedi–Mogaltur. “All 20 crew members were eventually rescued by Thursday evening,” the official statement said.
The vessel, which was carrying sulphur, reportedly suffered an engine failure while sailing from Visakhapatnam to Singapore after unloading cargo at the port. Unable to continue its voyage amid rough seas and strong winds, the ship drifted off course and ran aground near Antarvedi–Mogaltur, close to the Ravva oil field in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin.
“The rescue operation was completed by Thursday evening, averting a potential maritime emergency,” the statement said.
According to the official statement, 13 crew members were initially rescued and transferred safely to Sujay. The rescue operation subsequently continued to evacuate the remaining crew, with Coast Guard personnel working in difficult sea conditions and helicopter support deployed to facilitate the operation.
“All 20 crew members were eventually rescued by Thursday evening,” the statement said.
While the crew have been rescued, the condition of the stranded vessel remains a concern. Port officials and maritime authorities are monitoring the situation, and a detailed inspection is expected to determine the extent of damage and the next course of action.
The statement said Sigma Pearl is a bulk carrier owned by Pearl Marine Ltd-MAI, with Pioneer Marine Advisers Pte. serving as its commercial and ISM manager. The vessel sails under the Marshall Islands flag and has a deadweight capacity of 32,688 tonnes, it added.