NEW DELHI– The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued two crew members aboard the U.S.-flagged sailing yacht Sea Angel after it became stranded in rough seas approximately 52 nautical miles southeast of Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The rescue mission concluded on Friday morning with the Sea Angel safely towed to Campbell Bay harbor.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the incident occurred on July 10 when the vessel was disabled due to a torn sail and an entangled propeller amid harsh sea conditions. Upon receiving a distress signal, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Port Blair swiftly initiated emergency protocols and alerted nearby merchant ships.
ICG Ship Rajveer was promptly dispatched to the scene. After establishing communication with the distressed vessel, the Coast Guard crew conducted an on-site assessment and confirmed that both sailors were in good health despite the mechanical issues and challenging weather.
The successful towing and escort of the Sea Angel to safety underscored the Indian Coast Guard’s rapid response capabilities and its commitment to maritime safety in the region, the MoD stated.
The operation follows another high-stakes maritime rescue by Indian forces. On June 29, the Indian Navy responded to a Mayday call from the Palau-flagged tanker MT Yi Cheng 6 in the North Arabian Sea, where a major engine room fire had erupted about 80 nautical miles east of Fujairah, UAE.
INS Tabar, on mission-based deployment, raced to the scene and launched a firefighting and rescue effort that successfully stabilized the vessel and ensured the safety of all 14 Indian crew members on board. (Source: IANS)
