Indian Coast Guard Rescues Stranded US Yacht In Daring Operation Off Andaman Coast
Indian Coast Guard rescues two crew from US yacht Sea Angel stranded in rough seas near Andaman Islands after sail damage and propeller failure. Towed safely to Campbell Bay on July 11.
In a gripping maritime rescue amid stormy seas, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) saved two crew members aboard a distressed US-flagged yacht, Sea Angel, stranded southeast of Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday, July 11, 2025.
The drama unfolded a day earlier, on July 10 at 11:57 a.m., when the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Port Blair received a distress signal from the 16-by-8-meter sailing vessel. The yacht had suffered severe mechanical issues — its sail had been torn apart by fierce winds and its propeller had become hopelessly entangled in ropes, rendering it immobile in dangerously rough waters, 52 nautical miles from India's southernmost tip.
Responding without delay, MRCC activated the International Safety Net (ISN), alerting nearby merchant vessels while launching its emergency rescue protocol. The ICG immediately deployed its patrol ship, Rajveer, at 2 p.m. to reach the stricken vessel.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Coast Guard shared details of the mission:
“Heroic rescue at sea! ICG ship Rajveer braved raging winds & rough seas to save US yacht Sea Angel with two crew, after complete propulsion failure near Indira Point.”
Heroic rescue at sea! 🇮🇳 @IndiaCoastGuard ship #Rajveer braved raging winds & rough seas to save #US yacht Sea Angel with two crew, after complete propulsion failure near #IndiraPoint. On 10 Jul 25, at 1157 hrs #ICG MRCC #PortBlair received a distress alert from #UnitedStates… pic.twitter.com/DQyn5Gtame
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) July 11, 2025
By 5:30 p.m., Rajveer arrived at the scene. Despite battling harsh sea conditions, the crew of the Indian Coast Guard managed to establish contact with the two sailors aboard — one American and one Turkish national — both of whom were found to be safe and in stable condition.
At 6:50 p.m., the ICG successfully secured Sea Angel under tow. Navigating through rough waters, they escorted the yacht safely to Campbell Bay, where it arrived at 8 a.m. the following morning.
The Indian Coast Guard confirmed the sequence of events in a statement, noting that the distress alert had been relayed through the United States Consulate in Chennai. The rescue effort, marked by precision and resilience, underscored the ICG’s readiness to respond swiftly to international maritime emergencies in one of the most remote regions of the Indian Ocean.
The successful mission not only showcased India’s maritime rescue capabilities but also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives at sea — regardless of national borders.
As questions rise about what led to the yacht’s mechanical failure in such volatile waters, one thing is certain: swift coordination and courageous execution by the Indian Coast Guard averted what could have been a far more tragic outcome.
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