The Indian Coast Guard in Chennai rescued all 20 crew members from the stranded bulk carrier Sigma Pearl near Antarvedi in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on Thursday. The authorities deployed ICGS Sujay, a Samarth-class offshore patrol vessel, for the rescue operation. 

On the night of October 27, the Singapore-bound bulk carrier, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, was stranded near the Ravva oil field off the Kakinada coast. By Thursday, it drifted towards Antarvedi. It departed Visakhapatnam Port at 12.17 a.m. on October 27.

Engine failure is believed to be the reson for the stranding of the ship.

“All 20 crew members on board Sigma Pearl have been airlifted to ICGS-Sujay deployed by ICG, Chennai. The rescue operation continued till 6 p.m.,” an ICG official told The Hindu. The Andhra Pradesh government also confirmed the rescue operation.