Indian Coast Guard Strikes Swiftly To Prevent Maritime Disaster Off Paradip: Flooding Stabilised Onboard Chemical Tanker 'MT Seagull 9'
In a rapid and decisive maritime operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully averted a major incident at sea, rescuing a distressed foreign chemical tanker, MT Seagull 9, approximately 37 nautical miles East-South-East of Paradip, Odisha. The Belize-flagged vessel, carrying 9,000 Metric Tonnes of palm oil with 23 crew members onboard, issued an urgent distress call at about 0730 hrs on…
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) swiftly averted a potential maritime disaster off the coast of Paradip, Odisha, by rescuing a distressed chemical tanker, MT Seagull 9. The vessel, flagged under the Belize flag, was carrying 9,000 metric tonnes of palm oil and had 23 crew members onboard. The tanker ran into trouble when its main engine failed and ballast tanks began to flood, causing the ship to tilt dangerously. Reports suggest this incident occurred around 0730 hours on September 27, 2026.
The Indian Coast Guard's response was immediate, with the ICGS Vishwast dispatched to the scene. A team of specialists aboard the ICGS Vishwast immediately boarded the unstable tanker to counter the leakage. Using submersible deflooding pumps and advanced damage-control equipment, the team was able to arrest the leakage, seal two damaged seawater pipelines, and contain a third fractured line.
To further bolster the situation, the Indian Coast Guard also diverted a Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) and an additional Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) to the location. This ensured round-the-clock monitoring of the situation.
Through a coordinated effort between the ICGS Vishwast's specialized team and the tanker's crew, cargo transfer and deflooding operations were carried out concurrently. This not only stabilized the tanker but also eliminated the threat of it capsizing. Simultaneous aerial surveillance was conducted by an ICG Dornier aircraft launched from Bhubaneswar. An initial sheen of palm oil observed near the vessel on September 27 was confirmed to have been fully dissipated in follow-up aerial sorties on September 28.
Strict pollution-response protocols were maintained to protect the marine ecosystem. The stabilization of the tanker was followed by the Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin taking the stabilized MT Seagull 9 under tow towards the anchorage area off Paradip. The tanker's main engine repairs are currently underway, assisted by the technical team from the ICGS Vishwast. The ICGS Vishwast, alongside the deployed specialized assets, remains on scene, providing continuous operational support.
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