INDIAN COAST GUARD PREVENTS MARITIME DISASTER OFF PARADIP BY STABILISING BELIZE-FLAGGED TANKER MT SEAGULL 9

New Delhi : The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully averted a major maritime disaster off the coast of Paradip, Odisha, by stabilising the Belize-flagged chemical tanker MT Seagull 9, which suffered main engine failure and rapid ballast tank flooding approximately 37 nautical miles East-South-East of Paradip. Carrying 9,000 metric tonnes of palm oil with 23 crew members onboard, the vessel issued an urgent distress call at around 0730 hrs on September 27, 2026, due to a severe tilt. ICGS Vishwast was immediately dispatched to the scene, where a specialist ICG Damage Control Team boarded the unstable ship, deployed submersible de-flooding pumps, blanked two damaged seawater pipelines, and contained a third fractured line to prevent capsizing. To support the operation, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, a Pollution Control Vessel, and ICG Dornier aircraft from Bhubaneswar were deployed for continuous monitoring. A minor palm-oil sheen detected initially was confirmed fully dissipated by September 28, 2026, while strict anti-pollution protocols remain active. The tanker was subsequently taken under tow by the Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin toward the anchorage area, with ICG assets maintaining an active sentinel watch and providing ongoing support.