Indian Coast Guard Rescues Six Crew Members After Vessel Sinks Off Mangalore
The Indian Coast Guard rescued six crew members of MSV Salamath, which sank 60 nutical miles off Mangalore. Image courtesy: X.com/@IndianCoastGuard
In a swift and coordinated operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on May 16 rescued all six crew members of MSV SALAMATH, a vessel that sank 60 nautical miles off the coast of Mangalore while en route from New Mangalore, Karnataka, to Kadmatt Island in Lakshadweep. The ICG’s response came after a distress alert was issued by the vessel.
ICG Ship Vikram, which was already on patrol, was immediately diverted for the Search and Rescue (SAR) mission. The crew of the Vikram executed a prompt and effective rescue operation, recovering all six survivors from the water. The rescued individuals received initial medical care onboard and were subsequently brought to New Mangalore Port for further treatment and recovery.
The Indian Coast Guard shared visuals of the successful operation on its official social media account, with images showing survivors being assisted aboard rescue boats and the ICG ship maintaining position near the rescue site. The incident underscored the ICG’s continued vigilance in ensuring safety at sea and its operational capability to respond quickly to maritime emergencies.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaCoastGuard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaCoastGuard</a> swiftly responded to a distress alert and rescued six crew members of MSV SALAMATH, which sank 60 Nm off <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mangalore?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mangalore</a> while on passage from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewMangalore?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewMangalore</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karnataka?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karnataka</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kadmatt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kadmatt</a> Island, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakshadweep?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakshadweep</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICG</a> Ship Vikram, whilst on patrol, was diverted for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAR</a> and… <a href="https://t.co/J2zJW7Kpke">pic.twitter.com/J2zJW7Kpke</a></p>— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaCoastGuard/status/1923265528291872960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Other recent ICG operations: medical evacuations
In addition to the May 16 rescue, the ICG carried out two separate medical evacuation missions in recent weeks.
On May 9, the Coast Guard coordinated with Lakshadweep and Kerala administrations to evacuate a 13-year-old girl in critical condition from Agatti Island. She was airlifted by an ICG Dornier aircraft to Kochi for emergency treatment after being diagnosed with sepsis and related complications. Photos from the operation showed ICG personnel escorting the patient to the ambulance upon landing, illustrating the Coast Guard’s growing capability in time-sensitive humanitarian missions.
Earlier, on April 28, the ICG executed another medical evacuation approximately 100 km southeast of Pipavav. A critically injured fisherman aboard IFB Sankruti Sagar was rescued by ICG Ship C-419, stabilised during transit, and transferred for advanced medical care. The patient was later reported to be in stable condition.
These back-to-back operations — involving rescue at sea, airborne evacuation, and medical support — reinforce the Indian Coast Guard’s expanding role in not just maritime security, but also public safety and humanitarian response. With its motto “Vayam Rakshamah” (We Protect), the ICG continues to serve as a critical pillar of India’s maritime infrastructure.
