Full Breakdown
Indian Coast Guard Stabilizes Belize-Flagged MT Seagull 9 Off Paradip
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Core Incident
On September 27, 2026 a distress call was received from the Belize-flagged chemical tanker MT Seagull 9, about 37 nm east-southeast of Paradip, Odisha. Carrying 9,000 t of palm oil and 23 crew, the vessel suffered a main-engine failure that flooded a ballast tank and caused a dangerous list. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) deployed the offshore patrol vessel ICGS Vishwast and a damage-control team, which boarded the tanker, arrested the leak, sealed damaged seawater pipelines and used submersible pumps to de-flood the tanks. Concurrent cargo-transfer and de-flooding stabilized the ship, preventing capsizing and a spill. The Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin then towed the tanker to an anchorage while the ICG maintained round-the-clock surveillance.
Timeline
- Sept 27, 2026 – MT Seagull 9 issues distress call at ? 07:30 hrs; ICG dispatches ICGS Vishwast, a Pollution Control Vessel and an Offshore Patrol Vessel.
- Sept 27, 2026 – Minor palm-oil sheen observed near the vessel.
- Sept 28, 2026 – Aerial sorties confirm the sheen has dissipated; the stabilized tanker is towed toward Paradip anchorage.
- Oct 8 (scheduled) – The operation serves as a prelude to a National Maritime SAR exercise off Paradip.
Data & Statistics
- Vessel: MT Seagull 9 (Belize flag) – chemical tanker.
- Cargo: 9,000 t palm oil.
- Location: 37 nm east-southeast of Paradip.
- Response assets: ICGS Vishwast, a Pollution Control Vessel, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, and a Dornier maritime-surveillance aircraft.
Official Statements & Responses
The ICG described the operation as a “swift & decisive” multi-agency effort that averted disaster. It highlighted the tug Dolphin in towing the stabilized tanker and noted ongoing technical assistance from ICGS Vishwast’s crew to repair the main engine. A Dornier aircraft from Bhubaneswar provided real-time aerial surveillance throughout.
Why It Matters
Stabilizing the tanker prevented a potential spill of 9,000 t of palm oil into the Bay of Bengal and demonstrated the ICG’s capacity for rapid damage-control and coordinated multi-asset response in congested coastal waters. The incident also serves as a practical rehearsal for the upcoming National Maritime SAR exercise on October 8, enhancing regional maritime safety preparedness.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The team arrested the leakage, blanked two damaged seawater pipelines and contained a third fractured line,” — Commandant Amit Uniyal, ICG PR Officer
- “Coast Guard continues to maintain strict pollution-response measures to safeguard the marine ecosystem,” — Commandant Amit Uniyal, ICG PR Officer
What's Next
The ICG will incorporate lessons from the MT Seagull 9 response into the National Maritime SAR exercise slated for October 8 off Paradip, aiming to further refine coordinated rescue and pollution-control capabilities in the Indian Ocean region.