MV Suez crew shifted to Pakistani warship PNS Babar

Islamabad, Jun 19 (PTI) The MV Suez's 22-member crew,
including six Indians, were on Sunday transferred to a
Pakistani warship when the Egyptian merchant vessel, which was
recently released by Somali pirates after payment of ransom,
began taking on water in the Arabian Sea.
MV Suez was on its way to the Omani port of Salalah
when it ran out of fuel and began taking on water in stormy
weather, Geo News channel quoted its sources as saying.
On getting a call for assistance, Pakistan Navy chief
Admiral Noman Bashir ordered the vessel's crew to be shifted
to the frigate PNS Babar, which was escorting it.
The Egyptian owners of the Suez had abandoned its crew
and the vessel.
The Suez's captain had also opened the vessel's valves
to scuttle it, the channel reported.
The ship's crew was transferred to the PNS Babar this
afternoon, the channel said.
It was yet to be decided whether the crew, including
the Indians, would be brought to Karachi or Gwadar port in
Pakistan, navy sources were quoted as saying.
Earlier, the captain of the Suez appealed to
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry and the naval chief for immediate
help as he feared the vessel would capsize after being caught
in strong winds.
MV Suez Captain Syed Wasi Hasan said on phone that the
weather had turned threatening due to the monsoons.
"We were on the open seas for the past three days. The
owner of the ship has thus far not sent any fuel," he said.
Hasan said he had appealed to Pakistan authorities to
save the lives of his crew.
Pakistan and India have exchanged angry charges over
an incident allegedly involving PNS Babar and the Indian
warship INS Godavari.
Pakistan alleged the Indian warship had brushed
against Babar and carried out "dangerous manoeuvres".
India responded by saying that the Pakistani warship
was responsible for the incident.