Russia’s Sovcomflot tanker rescued 19 seafarers after their ship started sinking off the coast of Yemen, the Russian company said.
Sovcomflot tanker NS Africa was sailing southeast of the port of Nishtun in southern Yemen on June 23 when it responded to a distress call by the Lavant tanker whose crew had abandoned ship and were in a life raft in the open sea.
The tanker responded to the signal received and changed its course, heading for the disaster area.
The crew of the sinking vessel was forced to abandon the ship, Sovcomflot said, adding that the tanker picked up all the seafarers from the life raft where they were at the time of their discovery.
“At 14:10 local time, the crew of the NS Africa tanker carried out an operation to rescue 19 sailors, including citizens of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Indonesia,” reads the company’s statement.
All of the seafarers were taken on board, accommodated and supplied with drinking water and food. There are no reports for any injuries or missing crew.
SCF added that the rescued seafarers were scheduled to disembark in the Egyptian port of Suez on June 29.
After completing the rescue operation, the tanker proceeded in the direction of the Suez Canal, continuing its voyage mission.
