Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) Sunday conducted a joint operation at 180 Nautical Miles South of Karachi and rescued crew of MV SUVARI H.
The operation was carried out in the exclusive economic zone of Pakistani sea in which the cargo ship sank due to strong winds and tide, said a Pakistan Navy news release.
Emergency messages were sent by the crew before sinking, the messages were received by a nearby cargo ship, MT Elan Vital, and five crew members were immediately rescued.
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Upon receiving the information Pakistan Navy aircraft on air surveillance was directed to the sinking site and a PMSA aircraft and a ship were also immediately dispatched for assistance. Pakistan Navy and PMSA aircraft initially identified eight crew members and later five more crew members were rescued with the help of a life raft.
The identification of more members was reported to the nearby ship MT DESH ABHIMAAN, which rescued five more members.
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that Merchant Vessel (MV) SUVARI H which had sailed from Kandla, INDIA for Bossasso, Somalia got stranded approx 180 Nautical Miles south of Karachi alongwith 18 crew members onboard at sea. #PakistanNavy in coordination with PMSA, #ISPR pic.twitter.com/WqI6GKAcYw— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) July 30, 2021
So far, 15 out of 18 crew members have been rescued as a result of the efforts of Pakistan Navy and PMSA, while Pakistan Navy and PMSA are conducting search operations through ships and aircrafts to find three other members.
All crew of the sunk ship belongs to Syria, the ship was carrying cargo from India to Somalia.
Nuclear-armed neighbours
The Pakistan Navy in March, 2019 had thwarted an attempt by an Indian submarine to enter Pakistani territorial waters.
The latest development comes after an increase in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
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“The Pakistan Navy is always ready to guard its territorial waters and is capable of responding to any kind of aggression with full force,” said the navy.
Courtesy: APP