Pakistan Navy Saves Indian Crew of Tugboat in Distress

The Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) successfully rescued nine Indian seamen from a distressed tugboat stranded at sea.

The Ocean Tug SAS-5, registered at St Kitts & Nevis, had been disabled for several days near the Indian coast, approximately 167 nautical miles southeast of Karachi, due to a failure in its electric generators, leaving it without electrical supply.

On February 4, 2024, the Pakistan Navy Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Center (JMICC) received a distress signal from the stranded tugboat. A Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft was immediately tasked to locate the vessel at sea, followed by a Search and Rescue operation conducted by the Pakistan Maritime Security Ship (PMSS) Kashmir, already deployed for routine Maritime Security Operations in the area.

After reaching the distressed tugboat, PMSS Kashmir secured the vessel alongside and, after three hours of strenuous repair efforts, rectified the electrical defect that had left the tug without power. In addition to technical assistance, the crew of the stranded tugboat was provided with medical facilities, fresh water, and cooked meals to alleviate their fatigue.

Upon the completion of the Search and Rescue operation, the tugboat was able to resume its voyage towards its next port of call at Sharjah, U.A.E.