Port Blair: In a dramatic overnight operation amid raging seas, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued two sailors, an American and a Turkish national, after their US-flagged yacht Sea Angel was stranded 52 nautical miles southeast of Indira Point in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The vessel had suffered total propulsion failure, leaving it adrift in extreme conditions.
Distress Alert Triggered Late-Night Rescue
The rescue began late Thursday after the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Port Blair received a distress alert from the US Consulate in Chennai. The alert flagged that the yacht had lost power and was drifting with one American and one Turkish crew member onboard, ANI reported.
According to a senior ICG official, Sea Angel had been disabled by a blown sail and ropes entangled in its propeller, making navigation impossible. In response, the MRCC activated the International Safety Net, issued alerts to nearby vessels, and dispatched the Coast Guard ship Rajveer to assist.
'Heroic Rescue at Sea’: Yacht Towed to Safety
Battling rough waters and high winds, Rajveer reached the yacht on Friday morning. The Coast Guard team established contact with the stranded crew and assessed the condition of the vessel, confirming that both sailors were safe and uninjured.
At 6:50 pm on Thursday, the team began towing Sea Angel, eventually bringing it safely to Campbell Bay harbour by 8:00 am on Friday.
"Heroic rescue at sea! Indian Coast Guard ship Rajveer braved raging winds & rough seas to save US yacht Sea Angel," the ICG said in a post on X, confirming the details of the rescue.
Last month, the ICG had also rescued three Sri Lankan nationals stranded on a sandbar near Adam’s Bridge, off the coast of Tamil Nadu, reinforcing its role in ensuring maritime safety across the region.
