Navy officials have said that the crew of the MV Suez, which was recently rescued from Somali pirates, has been evacuated on board another Navy ship as it continues towards home.
Following orders of the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nauman Bashir, PNS Babar had been dispatched to escort the MV Suez, following a request for assistance by the rescued ship’s captain, according to a press release of the navy’s public relations directorate.
Crew members will be transferred onboard the PNS Zulfiqar, which will bring them to Pakistan while PNS Babar resumes its counter piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden from where it was diverted for this rescue operation.
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.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2011.
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