The Indian Coast Guard on Friday said it had successfully evacuated 21 of the 24 crew members from a merchant vessel after a collision near the outer anchorage off Kandla and activated pollution response measures in coordination with central and state agencies.
Rescue operation and vessel status
The collision involved merchant vessels MV KMAX EMPEROR and MV TRUE MARINER close to the outer anchorage OTB Kandla, the Coast Guard reported. Following the incident, the force launched a rescue operation and evacuated 21 of the 24 crew aboard MV KMAX EMPEROR. Three crew members remained on board to support the vessel’s operations, the agency said.
"Following a collision between merchant vessels MV KMAX EMPEROR and MV TRUE MARINER off outer anchorage OTB Kandla, @IndiaCoastGuard launched a swift rescue operation, leading to safe evacuation of 21 of the 24 crew members aboard MV KMAX EMPEROR. 3 crew members remain onboard to…"
The Coast Guard did not disclose injuries or the extent of structural damage to the ships in its initial advisory. No information was provided immediately about casualties aboard MV TRUE MARINER.
Pollution response and coordination
Alongside the rescue, the Indian Coast Guard said it had activated comprehensive pollution response measures. The force is coordinating with the Directorate General of Shipping, central agencies and the Gujarat state administration to monitor and mitigate any release of pollutants into the marine environment.
Coastal authorities said they were maintaining surveillance of the area, given the ecological sensitivity of Gujarat’s maritime zone and the heavy shipping traffic that passes through the Kandla anchorage, one of the region’s key maritime nodes.
Local and commercial implications
Kandla (Deendayal Port) is a major anchorage for vessels serving Gujarat’s ports and industrial hinterland. Any incident at the outer anchorage can cause temporary disruption to port operations, pilotage and ship movements, and often triggers inspections of nearby vessels for safety and pollution risks.
Shipping companies and local port stakeholders routinely rely on timely updates from the Coast Guard and port authorities to manage berthing schedules and logistics chains. The activation of pollution-response measures is intended to limit any environmental and commercial fallout while ensuring navigational safety for other vessels in the vicinity.
What authorities are doing
The Coast Guard has not released a timeline for the completion of salvage or environmental-containment operations. Its initial actions include:
- Evacuation and medical assessment of crew from the affected vessel.
- Deployment of pollution-response assets and surveillance craft to the site.
- Coordination with the Directorate General of Shipping and Gujarat state administration for further technical and regulatory support.
Investigations into the cause of the collision are expected to involve the ship operators, flag states and shipping regulators, as is standard practice for maritime incidents in Indian waters.
Background: Kandla’s maritime role and previous incidents
OTB Kandla serves as an anchorage for vessels awaiting berthing at ports on the Kutch coast and acts as a staging area for cargo and tanker traffic that services Gujarat’s large industrial clusters. Given the volume of commercial vessels, the Coast Guard and port authorities maintain round-the-clock surveillance and contingency plans for search-and-rescue and pollution control.
Incidents involving merchant vessels can pose risks to coastal ecosystems and fisheries, as well as to local port-dependent businesses. Quick activation of pollution-response protocols is aimed at limiting oil or hazardous-cargo spills and protecting shoreline and marine resources while the cause of collision is established.
Further updates are expected from the Indian Coast Guard and the Directorate General of Shipping as on-scene assessments progress and investigations into the collision begin.
Reporting from Kandla. This dispatch is based on Coast Guard advisories and official statements issued on the incident.
