Karachi, May 4, 2026: The Pakistan Navy has launched a humanitarian rescue operation in the Arabian Sea to assist a distressed merchant vessel carrying Indian and Indonesian crew members, security sources said on Monday.
According to the sources, Pakistan Navy personnel are providing emergency assistance to six Indian nationals and one Indonesian crew member aboard the merchant vessel MV Gautam, which developed a technical fault while sailing from Oman to India.
Officials said the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai contacted Pakistani authorities seeking assistance after the vessel encountered difficulties in the Arabian Sea.
In response to the emergency request, Pakistan deployed Pakistan Maritime Security Agency vessel PNS Kashmir to carry out the rescue and support mission.
Security officials said the stranded crew members are being provided food, medical aid, and technical assistance onboard as efforts continue to stabilise the vessel.
They added that the Pakistan Navy remains fully prepared to respond to maritime emergencies and humanitarian situations in regional waters.
The navy has conducted several rescue and evacuation missions in recent years involving distressed merchant ships and fishing vessels as part of its maritime safety and humanitarian responsibilities.
Earlier in April, the Pakistan Navy rescued and evacuated 18 crew members from the merchant vessel Gold Autumn in the North Arabian Sea after receiving a distress call, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The statement said PNS Hunain conducted the operation nearly 200 nautical miles off Pakistan’s coast, providing medical assistance, firefighting support, and damage assessment before evacuating the crew safely to Karachi.
The rescued crew included nationals from China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
