Twelve crew members of a sunken vessel were successfully rescued in a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (MSA) in the northern Arabian Sea on Wednesday.
The vessel, MSV Al Piranpir, was en route from Porbandar in Gujarat to Bandar Abbas in Iran when it sank early on Wednesday due to adverse sea conditions and flooding. A distress alert was received by the Indian Coast Guard’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai, prompting an immediate response.
The ICG’s regional headquarters in Gandhinagar quickly mobilised resources, including the patrol vessel ICGS Sarthak, which was diverted to the incident site. The MSA was also informed, and their swift response included deploying an aircraft and notifying nearby mariners.
The search efforts were further bolstered by the involvement of the merchant vessel MV Cosco Glory. The combined operation located the 12 crew members, who had abandoned their sinking dhow and taken refuge in a dinghy, approximately 270 kilometres west of Dwarka, within Pakistan’s search and rescue region.
The crew were safely rescued by ICGS Sarthak and provided with medical care onboard. All were reported to be in good health and were subsequently brought to Porbandar Harbour in Gujarat.
This joint operation highlights the effective cross-border cooperation between maritime agencies in the region and underscores the Indian Coast Guard’s operational readiness and commitment to humanitarian missions, as reflected in its motto, Vayam Rakshamah (“We Protect”).
Also Read: Fadnavis Takes Oath as Maharashtra CM; Ajit Pawar, Shinde Join as Deputies
