Indian Coast Guard Rescues Tilting Chemical Tanker in Bay of Bengal

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued a 23-crew Belize-flagged chemical tanker, MT Seagull 9, in the Bay of Bengal after an engine failure caused flooding and a dangerous tilt, an official said on Monday. The incident occurred approximately 37 nautical miles East-South-East of Paradip, Odisha, with the vessel, carrying 9,000 metric tonnes of palm oil, issuing an urgent distress call around 7.30 a.m. on Sunday. ICGS Vishwast was deployed immediately, and a specialist ICG Damage Control Team boarded the unstable vessel to begin emergency measures. The team deployed submersible de-flooding pumps, arrested the leakage, blanked two damaged seawater pipelines, and contained a third fractured line, eliminating the threat of capsizing. The Coast Guard also diverted a Pollution Control Vessel and an additional Offshore Patrol Vessel, while a Dornier aircraft was launched from Bhubaneswar for aerial surveillance. A minor palm-oil sheen observed near the vessel on Sunday was confirmed fully dissipated during follow-up aerial sorties on Monday, with pollution-response protocols remaining active to protect the marine ecosystem. Following stabilisation, Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin took MT Seagull 9 under tow towards the anchorage area off Paradip. ICGS Vishwast and other deployed assets remain on scene, maintaining watch and providing continuous operational support, according to the statement.