The Indian Coast Guard has rescued all 20 crew of the bulk carrier Sigma Pearl. The ship went aground off Antarvedi, on the coast of Andhra Pradesh in eastern India. This happened during Cyclone Arnab in the Bay of Bengal.
The Coast Guard said on X on the evening of 29 October 2026 that the Coast Guard ship Sujay and a Coast Guard helicopter rescued all 20 crew in rough seas. It said there was no loss of life.
What happened
The Sigma Pearl is a bulk carrier under the flag of the Marshall Islands. A bulk carrier is a ship that carries loose cargo such as coal, grain or ore. The ship is 180 metres long and has a gross tonnage of 20,809, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.
The ship had unloaded its cargo at Visakhapatnam port. It was going to Singapore when it ran into the cyclone. The South First news site says the ship went aground in shallow water in the early hours of 28 October.
The IANS news agency reports that the ship had a suspected engine failure in the bad weather. It went aground near Antarvedi while passing through the Ravva oil field. The cause has not been officially confirmed.
Cyclone Arnab was a very severe cyclonic storm. This is a strong tropical storm with very high winds and big waves.
How the crew were rescued
The Coast Guard sent its offshore patrol ship Sujay and a helicopter. The helicopter worked from a helipad at Mogalthur village, in West Godavari district.
On 29 October, an official Coast Guard press release said 13 crew had been airlifted to Sujay. Seven were still on board, and the rescue continued, as PTI reported. Later that evening, the Coast Guard said all 20 crew were safe.
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The Coast Guard post above has a short video and a set of photos. The photos show the grounded Sigma Pearl with a Coast Guard boat next to it. They also show a ladder on the ship's side and a rescued seafarer getting a medical check.
The names and nationalities of the crew have not been published. It is not yet known what will happen to the ship. Experts still need to check it for damage and for any fuel leaks.
What it means for crews
A cyclone can push a ship onto the coast very fast, especially if the engine stops. These simple steps can help if your ship is in a storm area:
Follow the official weather warnings for your area. In the north Indian Ocean, India's weather service gives cyclone warnings.
If the engine or steering fails near the coast, tell the nearest MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) early. Do not wait until the ship is aground.
Know your muster station and keep your lifejacket and survival suit ready.
Learn how a helicopter rescue works. Follow the winch crew's orders, and never touch the winch cable before it touches the deck or the sea.
Keep your passport, seaman's book and certificates in a waterproof bag that you can take with you quickly.
Cover photo: The Indian Coast Guard ship Sujay (front) during a firefighting operation at sea in September 2020. This is the same Coast Guard ship that took part in the Sigma Pearl rescue, but the photo is from an earlier operation. Photo: Indian Coast Guard/Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India.
Sources: Indian Coast Guard on X, 29 Oct 2026: all 20 crew of MV Sigma Pearl rescued, PTI via The Samaja, 29 Oct 2026: Coast Guard rescues crew of bulk carrier vessel stranded off Andhra coast during cyclone, IANS via Telangana Today, 29 Oct 2026: 13 rescued from Singapore-bound vessel off Andhra coast; seven await evacuation, The South First, 29 Oct 2026: Coast Guard rescues all 20 sailors from bulk carrier stranded off Andhra coast, The Hindu BusinessLine, 29 Oct 2026: Coast Guard rescues 13 crew members from merchant ship off Antarvedi.
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