The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has averted a major maritime incident following a distress situation onboard the Belize-flagged chemical tanker MT Seagull 9, near Odisha’s Paradip coast. The vessel issued an urgent distress call yesterday morning following main engine failure and rapid flooding of a ballast tank, resulting in a dangerous tilt. Defence Ministry said that the vessel was carrying nearly nine thousand metric tonnes of palm oil with 23 crew members onboard.

The Ministry said that ICGS Vishwast was immediately deployed to the location. A specialist ICG Damage Control Team boarded the unstable vessel and commenced emergency damage-control measures. Defence Ministry said that to augment the response, the Indian Coast Guard diverted a Pollution Control Vessel and an additional Offshore Patrol Vessel. Simultaneously, ICG Dornier aircraft was launched from Bhubaneswar for real-time aerial surveillance. A minor palm-oil sheen initially observed near the vessel was confirmed fully dissipated during follow-up aerial sorties today. The Ministry said that strict pollution-response protocols remain active to safeguard the marine ecosystem.

Following stabilisation, Paradip Port Authority tug Dolphin took MT Seagull 9 under tow towards the anchorage area off Paradip. The Ministry informed that ICGS Vishwast, along with the other deployed specialised assets, remains on scene, maintaining an active sentinel watch and providing continuous operational support.