KARACHI: The Pakistan Navy successfully rescued 18 crew members, including several foreign nationals, from a distressed merchant vessel in the North Arabian Sea after responding to an emergency call, according to a statement released Friday by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The navy launched a search and rescue operation after receiving a distress signal from the merchant vessel Gold Autumn, which was operating about 200 nautical miles (around 370 kilometres) off Pakistan’s coast.
Naval ship PNS Hunain was dispatched to the scene, where its specialist team carried out firefighting efforts, assessed the damage to the vessel, and provided medical assistance to those on board. The operation resulted in the safe rescue of all 18 crew members.
The rescued sailors included nationals from China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia. They were evacuated and transported to Karachi, where they will receive medical care before being repatriated to their respective countries.
The ISPR stated that the humanitarian assistance provided by the naval ship in waters far from the coast demonstrates the Pakistan Navy’s readiness to respond swiftly to maritime emergencies within its area of responsibility.
The rescue operation comes weeks after the navy launched Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr, aimed at protecting national shipping routes and maritime trade amid growing regional security concerns.
Announced on March 9, the initiative seeks to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy supplies and safeguard vital Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Beyond defending maritime borders, the Pakistan Navy also continues to conduct humanitarian missions to protect lives at sea regardless of nationality.