The Indian Coast Guard rescued all 20 crew members aboard the Philippine cargo vessel Sigma Pearl after it ran aground in the Bay of Bengal off the Andhra Pradesh coast amid adverse weather conditions caused by severe Cyclone Arnab.
The vessel, carrying sulphur, reportedly suffered an engine failure while sailing from Visakhapatnam to Singapore after unloading its cargo. Unable to navigate through rough seas and strong winds, it drifted off course and ran aground near Antarvedi–Mogaltur, close to the Ravva oil field in the Krishna-Godavari Basin.
The Coast Guard launched a rescue operation after receiving information about the stranded vessel. Personnel were mobilised from the Mogaltur area in West Godavari district, with Coast Guard ship Sujay deployed to assist.
Initially, 13 crew members were rescued and transferred to Sujay. The operation continued under challenging sea conditions, with helicopter support deployed to facilitate the evacuation.
All 20 crew members were safely rescued by Thursday evening, averting a potential maritime emergency.
Although the crew have been evacuated, the condition of the stranded vessel remains a concern. Port officials and maritime authorities are monitoring the situation, while a detailed inspection is expected to assess the extent of the damage and determine the next course of action.
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.
