Indian Coast Guard races to save 6 stranded on cyclone-hit bulk carrier
Sigma Pearl lost engine power near Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Arnab battered the Bay of Bengal with 150 kmph gusts.
The Indian Coast Guard has initiated a rescue mission to assist six crew members aboard the Sigma Pearl, a bulk carrier stranded near the Ravva oilfield off Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. The vessel, flying the Marshall Islands flag, lost engine power on October 28, with authorities attributing the failure to the impact of Cyclone Arnab.
Rescue teams, operating from a helipad in Mogalthur village in West Godavari district, have deployed a helicopter and multiple vessels, including the Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Sujay. Local authorities are coordinating with the Coast Guard to facilitate the operation. As of the latest reports, it remains unclear whether the crew has been evacuated or when the Sigma Pearl will resume its voyage to Singapore.
Engine failure amid cyclonic conditions: Coast Guard
The Sigma Pearl was en route to Singapore after unloading cargo at Visakhapatnam port when it encountered difficulties. The vessel departed Visakhapatnam at approximately 12:17 am on October 27, just as Cyclone Arnab approached the Andhra Pradesh coast. The storm, classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, made landfall early on October 28, bringing sustained winds of 125–135 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone’s landfall process lasted about six hours, weakening into a severe cyclonic storm by 8 am. The Sigma Pearl lost engine power while navigating the Ravva oilfield in the Krishna-Godavari Basin, an area directly affected by the storm. MarineTraffic, a vessel-tracking platform, showed the ship’s status as “Vessel is out of range” two days before the rescue operation began.
Cyclone’s aftermath in coastal Andhra Pradesh
Cyclone Arnab caused significant damage across coastal Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of four people. The storm uprooted thousands of trees and electricity poles, while crops in the region suffered extensive losses. Local authorities in West Godavari district continue to assist the Coast Guard in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The fate of the six crew members remains uncertain, with no official confirmation on their evacuation or the vessel’s next steps. The Sigma Pearl was last recorded moving along its planned route before communications were disrupted.
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