Share this article
Print this page
Email a friend
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.0
High: 33°C
Low: 27°C
Alerts
MV Suez sinks: All crew members board PNS Zulfiqar
Pakistan Navy dispatches PNS Zulfiqar to ferry the sailors back home, expected to dock on Thursday.
Pakistani warship, PNS Babar is shown escorting MV-Suez to port Salalah in Oman. PHOTO: FILE/APP
The 22 crew members of the Merchant Vessel (MV) Suez - including four Pakistanis – who were released by Somali pirates have boarded PNS Zulfiqar for the remainder of their trip back home.
PNS Zulfiqar anchored temporarily in the Gulf of Aden due to high tide in the ocean. It was scheduled to continue its journey back once the ocean settles. The ship is expected to dock on Thursday.
The MV Suez sank into the sea after it encountered technical problems due to strong winds and rough seas on its way to the Salalah port in Oman. The tugboat towing the ship also broke down Monday night. However, the sailors were rescued before their ship could sink and were shifted on board the PNS Zulfiqar, which was dispatched by the Pakistan Navy to ferry the sailors back.
Naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir called on Prime Minister Gilani and briefed him about the rescue operation.
The crew of MV Suez includes 11 Egyptians, six Indians, four Pakistanis and one Sri Lankan.
The MV Suez, owned by an Egyptian company, had been first boarded by Somali pirates in August last year. Its crew of 22 was finally released on June 14, after payment of $2.1 million.
The operation, codenamed Operation Umeed-e-Nau, was executed in two stages. In the first stage, launched on June 16, PNS Babar commenced humanitarian assistance to MV Suez, which included the transfer of a special operations force and medical teams along with medical supplies and food provisions.
Pirate boats attempted to hijack the MV Suez again but were thwarted by PNS Babar as warning shots were fired.
During the operation’s second stage, master of the vessel, considering all options, requested Pakistan Navy for evacuation of the crew on humanitarian grounds.
Related Videos
Reader Comments (17)
Latest News
The French were always the leaders
French intellectuals were quick to recognise the artistic potential of cinema.
Going cuckoo over a coup
Shekhar Gupta, editor-in-chief of The Indian Express, wants Rs100 crore from his peer, Outlook’s Vinod Mehta.
The drones club
Terrorists are not there because of drone attacks but precisely the opposite: they continue due to homicidal fanatics.
Miasma of terrorism in Pakistan also targets India: Nirupama Rao
SM Krishna also confirms late July visit to Pakistan.
CJP urges reforms in family laws, ensure provision of inexpensive, quick justice
Commission decides to demand additional grant in next budget to increased strength of judges, staff, infrastructure.
Recent Slideshows
More in Pakistan
Obama to reveal Afghan troop decision tomorrow
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2012 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? webmaster@tribune.com.pk
“It was scheduled to continue its journey back once the ocean settles.” are you really serious!!! waiting for the OCEAN TO SETTLE!!!Recommend
Now, This is how Pakistani Navy Saves.Recommend
Good job Pak Navy. Best of luck to all the people on board of PNS Zulfiqar. May all of u reach your homes safely….ameen.Recommend
@quranvshadith
those sailors are already safe on PNS babur…
babur wil be left there for anti piracy..now PNS zulfiqar will bring sailors back..Recommend
Thankgod the ordeal of those people is about to end .. Good job by our navy..Recommend
**Dear Tribune
Please correct your reporting, their is nothing know as HIGH TIDE IN OPEN SEA only its effects are localized to costal waters
PNS Zulfiqar anchored temporarily in the Gulf of Aden due to high tide in the ocean. It was scheduled to continue its journey back once the ocean settles
.Recommend
INSHALLAH Alway Pakistan Zindabad . Best Job Pakistan Navy , but , please destroy Somali pirates forever. Thanks to Ansar Burney on his excellent support & struggleRecommend
Weldone Pak Navy……thnx God Pak ne Kuch Acha kam bi kia…lolzRecommend
Keep giving money to pirates so that they are encouraged to kidnap more sailors. After all Pakistan wants to pay ransom money when western nations don’t engage in this practice. After this kidnapping, we shouldn’t complain when the pirates do it again! We have shown them that crime does pay after all!Recommend
You think that Pakistan did a great thing by paying the ransom…in reality Pakistan just encouraged the Somali depots to attack more ships. There needs to be an agreement on the international level that no one will pay a dime to these guys no matter what. Plus a all out naval offensive needs to be launched. It might hurt in a short term but that is the only way to stop these hijackings.Recommend
Finally some good news from Pakistan!! Thank you Ansar Burney, Pakistan Navy and DG ISI for bringing these people back homeRecommend
“However, the sailors were rescued before their ship could sink and were shifted on board the PNS Zulfiqar,…..”
Wake Up Mr. editor. What kind of an English is this?Recommend
Pay a price for ransom and it will encourage the wrong-does again.Recommend
Why could they people not be brought back via an air route? Waiting for ocean to settle. There is no such concept in an ocean and neither was any such rough activity reported or predicted in any of the forecasts.Recommend
This is the true face of Pakistan, A nation that would go beyond the limits to save a life. A great example of Humanitarian effort by a kind nation to assist release of 22 crew of MV Suez.Recommend
Well done”Ansar Burney welfare trust”Recommend
@ Andrea & Irshad: In your view, what Pakistan was suppose to do? Were we supposed to let the crew be in the hands of those bloody somalians? What about the feelings of their family members? Why the world’s powerful nations are not taking concrete steps to stop this type of pirate attacks? What US and NATO is doing? They can only drink the blood of innocent Iraqis & Afghanis? Pakistan just extended its help to rescue the hostages on humaniterian basis and for that u guys are blaming us? This is totally unfair…..Recommend