Coast Guard rescues crew of stranded bulk carrier near Andhra coast amid Cyclone Arnab
Synopsis
The Indian Coast Guard is racing to rescue six sailors stranded on bulk carrier Sigma Pearl near the Ravva oilfield off Kakinada — a rescue complicated by the vessel's location inside a sensitive offshore energy zone and the lingering aftermath of Cyclone Arnab, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast at 125–135 kmph just hours after the ship departed Visakhapatnam.
Key Takeaways
Indian Coast Guard launched a rescue operation on 29 October for six crew members aboard bulk carrier Sigma Pearl stranded near the Ravva oilfield , off Kakinada , Andhra Pradesh .
The ship reportedly suffered engine failure under the impact of Cyclone Arnab while returning to Singapore after unloading at Visakhapatnam port .
A Coast Guard helicopter , patrol vessel, and Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Sujay' were deployed; operations were staged from Mogalthur village, West Godavari district .
MarineTraffic had flagged the vessel as 'out of range' two days before the rescue launch.
Cyclone Arnab made landfall on 28 October with winds of 125–135 kmph , claiming four lives and causing widespread damage in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The Indian Coast Guard on Thursday, 29 October 2026, launched a rescue operation for the six-member crew of Sigma Pearl, a Singapore-bound bulk carrier stranded near the Ravva oilfield off the Kakinada coast in Andhra Pradesh, after the vessel suffered engine failure reportedly under the impact of Cyclone Arnab. The ship, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was navigating through the KG Basin when its engines gave out.
How the Rescue Operation Unfolded
The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter and a patrol vessel to reach the stranded ship. Personnel were operating from the helipad at Mogalthur village in West Godavari district, which served as a staging point for the operation. The Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Vessel 'Sujay' was also dispatched towards the vessel's last known position. Local authorities in West Godavari district provided logistical support to the rescue teams.
The Vessel's Last Known Movements
Sigma Pearl departed Visakhapatnam port at approximately 12.17 am on 27 October, around the time Cyclone Arnab was approaching Yanam ahead of its landfall in the early hours of 28 October. The ship had completed cargo discharge at Visakhapatnam and was returning to Singapore when the engine failure occurred. The MarineTraffic portal, which monitors vessel positions globally, had flagged the ship's status as 'Vessel is out of range' two days prior, with its last recorded movement along the intended route.
Cyclone Arnab's Trail of Destruction
Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of 28 October with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph, gusting up to 150 kmph. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process continued for approximately six hours until 8 am, after which the system weakened into a severe cyclonic storm. The cyclone claimed four lives, uprooted thousands of trees and electricity poles, and caused extensive damage to crops across coastal districts.
What Comes Next
The focus of authorities remains on safely evacuating all six crew members from Sigma Pearl. The operational complexity is heightened by the vessel's location within the Ravva oilfield — a sensitive offshore energy installation in the KG Basin. The post-rescue assessment is also expected to determine whether the ship poses any risk to oilfield infrastructure. This incident is the latest in a pattern of maritime emergencies that tend to spike along the Bay of Bengal coast during cyclone season, underscoring the operational readiness of the Indian Coast Guard in India's eastern maritime zone.
Point of View
And the narrow window between port departure and landfall leaves little time for course correction. The Coast Guard's rapid deployment is commendable, but the broader question is whether port authorities at Visakhapatnam should have held the vessel given Arnab's proximity at departure time. With the Ravva oilfield directly in the picture, this rescue also carries an energy-infrastructure dimension that goes beyond crew safety. A systematic review of departure protocols during active cyclone warnings in the KG Basin offshore zone appears overdue.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the bulk carrier Sigma Pearl off the Andhra coast?
Sigma Pearl, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, suffered engine failure while navigating near the Ravva oilfield in the KG Basin off the Kakinada coast in Andhra Pradesh. The failure reportedly occurred under the influence of Cyclone Arnab as the vessel was returning to Singapore after unloading at Visakhapatnam port.
How many crew members are stranded on Sigma Pearl?
Six crew members are stranded aboard Sigma Pearl. The Indian Coast Guard launched a rescue operation on 29 October, deploying a helicopter, a patrol vessel, and Offshore Patrol Vessel Sujay to reach them.
What is Cyclone Arnab and how severe was it?
Cyclone Arnab was a very severe cyclonic storm that made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of 28 October with sustained winds of 125–135 kmph, gusting up to 150 kmph. According to the IMD, the landfall process lasted six hours; the storm claimed four lives and caused widespread destruction in coastal districts.
When did Sigma Pearl depart Visakhapatnam and why was it still at sea?
The vessel departed Visakhapatnam port at approximately 12.17 am on 27 October, around the time Cyclone Arnab was approaching Yanam before landfall. It had completed cargo discharge and was heading back to Singapore when the engine failure stranded it near the Ravva oilfield.
Where was the Indian Coast Guard staging its rescue from?
Coast Guard personnel were using the helipad at Mogalthur village in West Godavari district as the operational staging point. Local district authorities were providing support to facilitate the rescue efforts.
