JEDDAH — Rescue teams from the Saudi Border Guard successfully evacuated 31 crewmembers from a Panama-flagged ship that caught fire off the Farasan Island in the Red Sea. The Border Guard took over the rescue mission in accordance with the commitments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the 1979 International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) and in continuation to the humanitarian tasks being carried out by the Saudi force. The Jeddah Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (JMRCC) received an e-mail from the French Search and Rescue Center (GRIS NEZ MRCC) on Monday. It indicated that they have received a distress signal through INMARSAT C of the ship "ALFYROUZ" and after analyzing the information and determining the specific coordinates of the ship, it was found that it was a cargo ship flying the flag of Panama that was on fire. Processing the coordinates through the Electronic Chart Display and Information System, the ship turned out to be located at 228°, 60 nautical miles west of the island of Farasan. Upon situation assessment and coordinating managing the incident with the participating parties according to the national plan of maritime disasters management, it was decided to ensure expeditious assistance to evacuate the crew immediately. Through our common efforts, His Majesty King's ship "Riyadh" from Saudi Royal Naval Forces, Al-Ashiq ship and an interceptor boat from the Border Guard with medical staff have managed to evacuate the entire 31 crew that was composed of 27 Egyptians, 2 Indians and 2 Sudanese safely. At 3:35 p.m. on Monday, Al-Ashiq arrived at Jazan Port with the whole crew of the ship. They were received with warm hospitality and the necessary medical care was provided to them to ensure their health and All agents of the parties participating in the plan finalized all procedures. JMRCC has also passed information to the competent authorities to monitor the environmental situation and pollution that may result from the incident of the ship. The center coordinated with the coastal stations and port towers to broadcast the navigational warnings about the site of the accident to take precaution and ensure the safety of the shipping lanes. "We are working with the owner and shipping agent to proceed with the formalities in accordance with international conventions concerning the case of abandonment of a ship that was heavily damaged," said a press statement released by JMRCC.
