Indian Coast Guard Saves 11 Crew Members from Sinking Cargo Ship in Bay of Bengal
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued 11 crew members from the sinking cargo ship MV ITT Puma in the Bay of Bengal on the night of August 26, 2024. The MV ITT Puma was en route from Kolkata to Port Blair when it encountered rough seas, leading to its sinking about 90 nautical miles south of Sagar Island.
The Maritime Search & Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Chennai received a distress signal late on August 25. Responding swiftly, the ICG dispatched two ships, Sarang and Amogh, along with a Dornier aircraft equipped with advanced night-capable sensors, to the scene.
The Dornier aircraft played a crucial role in locating the drifting life rafts and identifying the red flares sent up by the stranded crew. The aircraft guided the ICG ships through rough seas to the location where the survivors were found in two life rafts tied together.
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Despite challenging weather conditions, the Indian Coast Guard rescue operation was completed successfully, ensuring the safety of all 11 crew members. This rescue took place just days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai on August 18, 2024. The new facility is equipped with advanced communication systems and crisis monitoring technologies to improve the efficiency of maritime rescue operations.
This successful operation follows another Indian Coast Guard rescue on August 24, when a Dornier aircraft located a fishing boat, IFB Angel, which was adrift due to an engine defect about 70 kilometers southeast of Diu. The ICG Ship Rajratan safely towed the distressed vessel, carrying nine crew members, to Jafarabad despite high waves.
These consecutive Indian Coast Guard rescue missions highlight the ICG’s dedication to maritime safety and its ability to carry out complex sea-air operations. The success of these missions reflects the effectiveness of the Maritime Search & Rescue Coordination Centre and the ICG’s readiness to respond to emergencies at sea.
