Pakistan Navy rescues 18 crew members from distressed vessel in Arabian Sea

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy on Friday rescued and evacuated 18 crew members, including foreign nationals, from a distressed merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea.

According to a statement, the operation was carried out in the North Arabian Sea, around 200 nautical miles off Pakistan’s coast, involving the merchant vessel MV Gold Autumn.

The rescued crew included nationals of China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The navy said the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) activated emergency protocols after receiving the distress call.

Following the alert, Pakistan Navy Ship Hunain, which was on patrol in the area, was immediately tasked to assist and launched a search and rescue operation.

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“The Pakistan Navy Ship actively undertook the search and rescue operation, demonstrating professionalism and operational expertise,” the statement said.

The naval team provided medical assistance, firefighting support and carried out a damage assessment before safely evacuating all 18 crew members.

The rescued individuals were later transported to Karachi for medical care and will be repatriated to their respective countries.

The statement added that the operation reflects the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to acting as a first responder in maritime emergencies within its area of responsibility.