Indian Coast Guard Saves 23 Crew From Tilting Tanker Off Odisha Coast

Odisha, India — September 29, 2026

Twenty-three crew members were rescued after a tanker carrying thousands of tonnes of palm oil began flooding and tilting dangerously off the coast of Odisha, India.

The Belize-flagged vessel, MT Seagull 9, sent a distress call on September 27 after its main engine failed and one of its ballast tanks began taking in water. At the time, the tanker was about 37 nautical miles east-southeast of Paradip.

Specialist Team Boards the Damaged Vessel

The Indian Coast Guard dispatched the offshore patrol vessel ICGS Vishwast to assist the tanker. A specialist damage-control team then boarded the unstable vessel despite challenging conditions.

The team deployed submersible pumps to remove water from the flooded sections and sealed damaged seawater pipelines. These efforts helped stabilize the tanker and reduce the risk of it capsizing.

23 Crew Members Safe

The tanker was carrying 9,000 tonnes of palm oil and had 23 crew members on board. Coast Guard personnel worked alongside the ship’s crew to carry out cargo-transfer and de-flooding operations at the same time.

Once the vessel was stabilized, a tug from the Paradip Port Authority towed MT Seagull 9 toward an anchorage area near the port. Repairs to its main engine are now underway with assistance from the Coast Guard’s technical team.

Pollution Risk Also Monitored

Because the tanker was carrying a large quantity of palm oil, authorities also monitored the surrounding waters for possible pollution. A pollution-control vessel, another offshore patrol vessel and a maritime surveillance aircraft were deployed during the operation.

A small palm-oil sheen detected near the tanker was later reported to have disappeared during follow-up aerial surveillance.

Sources

• The New Indian Express — Indian Coast Guard saves flooding chemical tanker and 23 crew from capsizing off Odisha — September 28, 2026.
• Times of India — Coast Guard rescues tilting chemical tanker carrying 23 crew from sinking off Odisha coast — September 28, 2026.
• UNI India — Coast Guard rescues distressed tanker carrying 9,000 tonnes palm oil — September 28, 2026.