UK Coastguard coordinated long range rescue after oil tanker sinks off Yemen coast
UK Coastguard have co-ordinated a
long range rescue after an oil tanker sank 240 miles off the coast of Yemen.
At around 4.30am today (26
June) the Coastguard received reports of a Mayday distress call issued by the
oil tanker, which is registered under a Panamanian flag, reporting that it was
sinking. The tanker, believed to have been carrying crude oil, is 99
meters long and had a crew of 14.
The Yemen Maritime Rescue
Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) were unable to assist, so the UK Coastguard stepped
in to co-ordinate the rescue, issuing a Satellite Communication Mayday relay
broadcast to all shipping in the area.
Multiple commercial vessels
nearby responded to the original Mayday call and made their way to the tanker,
which had sunk in gale force 8 winds and 5 metres swells. Commercial vessels recovered
12 of the 14 crew, who were wearing life jackets and immersion suits, from the
water.
One crew member was recovered
by a Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter and one remains unaccounted for. There
is evidence that the 3,000 tonnes of oil the tanker was carrying has gone down
with the vessel.
Steve Carson, Commander for
UK Coastguard said: “This was a desperate situation for the fourteen
crewmen, who were given no other option but to jump into the sea after the
tanker sank in severe weather conditions. Given the fact that Yemen
does not have a Coastguard to assist with these types of incidents the UK
Coastguard stepped in to lead the search and rescue mission. It was
incredibly lucky that commercial vessels were nearby and managed to make their
way to the scene quite quickly and rescue 12 crew members. Sadly, one
crew member is unaccounted for and due to the weather conditions on scene and
the oil spilled, the commercial vessels are unable to deploy their
lifeboats. Our priority is to protect life at sea and we will always do
everything possible to provide assistance for a mariner in need. In the
event we can't get there ourselves, we do our best to identify someone who can,
which is exactly what we did in this case.”