Photo credit: French Armed Forces General Staff
Two Indian crew members are still reported missing after their LPG tanker caught fire on Saturday. The remaining 24 crew members (1 Ukrainian and 23 Indians) of the Cameroon-flagged Falcon, which abandoned the ship, were rescued by two nearby vessels and are now heading towards the port of Djibouti, the Eunavfor Aspides said in a statement.
A distress call was issued on October 18 after fire erupted on the LPG tanker Falcon off the coast of Yemen that forced members of its crew to abandon the vessel.
The LPG tanker Falcon (built 1994) with destination Djibouti was on fire and adrift after an explosion onboard, Aspides said.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation. An operation was in progress to rescue its 26 crew members.
Upon receipt of an urgent distress request from the vessel’s master, Eunavfor Aspides, under the coordination of rear admiral Andrea Quondamatteo, force commander of Aspides, initiated an immediate response (search and rescue operation) to save all 26 crew members (1 Ukrainian, 25 Indians).
The Greek frigate HS Spetsai and air assets are reportedly involved in the search and rescue operation.
Specifically, the Hellenic Frigate HS Spetsai is tasked to close distance at the scene of action and employ the air asset under her control. Additionally, one French air asset is provided by the command of French forces in the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN).
Two nearby vessels, the Meda and AK Carl, have rescued 24 crew members. The search and rescue operation is ongoing.
“MV MEDA, with 24 crewmembers (1 Ukrainian and 23 Indians) rescued, is heading towards the port of Djibouti, escorted by the Hellenic Frigate HS SPETSAI. Two crew members (Indians) of MV FALCON are still reported missing,” Aspides reported.
Additional details will be released as they become available. “The situation is continuously monitored, and all resources are committed to ensuring maximum safety for everyone involved,” stated a spokesperson for Eunavfor Aspides.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported a vessel attack 116 nautical miles east of Aden, Yemen.
UKMTO didn’t disclose the name of the ship in its report.
“UKMTO has received a report of an incident 116NM east of Aden, Yemen. A vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile, resulting with a fire,” UKMTO noted. In an update, UKMTO said that is still unable to confirm the source of the explosion, but it cannot rule out an onboard accident.
In a second update, UKMTO reported that it has not been able to confirm the source of the incident. In the interim, this alert has been reclassified as an advisory, and investigations remain ongoing. UKMTO advises vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to them.
UKMTO is a voluntary reporting scheme (VRS) for the Indian Ocean, specifically Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea, which details escalating tensions in the Middle East with direct impact on mariners.
Shipping Telegraph cannot independently verify the reports about the crew members or the cause of the incident.
Aspides is continuing to monitor the situation and coordinate rescue efforts, issuing warnings to vessels in the area.
The incident is under development and updates will be provided when further information becomes available.
