The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has rescued 16 seafarers from a general cargoship beached by a storm off Maharashtra.

Video footage showed the 2,900-dwt Mangalam (built 1994) listing to starboard as waves washed over its cargo holds and battered its superstructure on 17 June.

The ICG sent in a ship and two Chetak helicopters to airlift the crew 3 km (1.8 miles) from Revdanda in Raigarh district, western India, the Hindustan Times reported.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a call on Thursday morning from the second officer on the ship.

Ship sinking

He said the Mangalam was "partially sinking" and his colleagues were frightened.

The centre's team calmed the caller and asked the seafarers to remain on board until a rescue could be attempted.

The vessel, classed by the Indian Register of Shipping, is operated by Pragati Marine Services of India, which has been contacted for further information.

The incident came on the same day that the ICG put its vessels on alert after a German-owned containership leaked oil when a crack developed in a fuel tank on the opposite side of India.

The 1,118-teu Devon (built 2008), operated by TB Marine Shipmanagement was en route from Colombo in Sri Lanka to Haldia in the north-east.

The ICG said 10 kilolitres (8.5 tonnes) of oil spilled into the Bay of Bengal.

The Portugal-flag ship developed an underwater crack in the port side fuel tank, which contained about 120 kl of very low-sulphur fuel oil, the ICG said.

The vessel has continued on to Haldia.