The cargo was experiencing severe flooding when the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center received a distress call.
The Pakistan Navy, in coordination with the Pakistan Maritime Safety Agency (PMSA), rescued all 20 Pakistani crew members from a sinking dhow off the coast of Ormara after responding to a distress call, army media said on Thursday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the cargo dhow, operating east of Ormara, was experiencing severe flooding when a distress call was received at the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre.
Pakistan Navy ship PNS Hunain and necessary air assets were immediately diverted to carry out the rescue operation.
In a swift emergency response, the Pakistan Navy, in coordination with PMSA, rescued all 20 crew members from a sinking cargo dhow east of Ormara. Following a distress alert, the JMICC coordinated an immediate search and rescue operation. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/SnZ4G3p258
– DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) July 9, 2026
According to the ISPR, all 20 crew members were safely recovered from the stricken vessel due to the professionalism of the rescue teams and are receiving necessary medical treatment.
The ISPR said the successful operation underlined the Pakistan Navy and PMSA’s commitment to ensuring safety of human life at sea and their preparedness to respond to maritime emergencies round the clock.
Earlier in April, the Pakistan Navy rescued 18 crew members from a merchant ship in the northern Arabian Sea after responding to a distress call.
According to the Pakistan Navy, the rescued crew included nationals from China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia, while the operation was coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center of the Pakistan Maritime Safety Agency.
