Bulk Carrier Runs Aground off Kakinada as Cyclone Arnab Hits
The Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Sigma Pearl ran aground near Antarvedi, off the Kakinada coast in Andhra Pradesh, on 28 October as Cyclone Arnab crossed India’s east coast. The spot lies on the Bay of Bengal, close to the Ravva oil field in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin, south-west of Visakhapatnam.
The 180-metre ship, built in 2010 and formerly named New Legend Pearl, had discharged a cargo of sulphur at Visakhapatnam and sailed for Singapore on 27 October. Reports say it lost propulsion in the storm. Unable to manoeuvre, it was pushed towards the coast by strong winds and heavy surf. The reported engine failure will be checked during an inspection.
The crew were reported unhurt. On 29 October the Indian Coast Guard launched a rescue mission, using the helipad at Mogalthur in West Godavari district as a base for its helicopter, and sent the offshore patrol vessel ICGS Sujay towards the ship. The Mercantile Marine Department and port authorities are monitoring the situation with the Konaseema district administration. A survey and salvage plan will follow once the weather settles.
According to the India Meteorological Department, Arnab crossed the coast south-west of Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm, with winds of 125–135 km/h gusting to 150 km/h, before weakening into a deep depression. Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Gangavaram ports suspended cargo work and berthing, with operations expected to restart on 29 October.
The grounding shows how quickly a ship can lose control near the coast if its engine fails in cyclone conditions. Masters on India’s east coast need to weigh weather warnings carefully before sailing, and crews benefit from having anchors, emergency towing gear and engine-room back-ups ready well before heavy weather arrives.
