31 Crewmen Rescued After Two Ships Collide Off UAE

A Sri Lankan-flagged ship has sunk after being involved in a collision with another ship off the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coast.

A total of 31 crewmembers from both ships were safely rescued, and no injuries have been reported. The collision reportedly occurred at around 3:30 a.m. on Friday about nine nautical miles off the coast of Umm Al Quwain. Local rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the incident scene.

A member of the UAE police detailed that the Sri Lankan ship was coming from Iran to Dubai with nine Indian crewmen and no cargo. The other vessel, Comoros-flagged, was leaving Dubai for Somalia with 22 crewmembers carrying various cargoes, including 46 cars.

While the Sri Lankan ship did sink following the collision, the second vessel involved is being repaired at the Sharjah Port. Salvage efforts are underway to raise the sunken vessel.

Preliminary evidence suggested that the Sri Lankan ship had stopped without having its lights on, but the cause of the accident is being officially investigated. It is suspected the ship had an engine malfunction which caused a power outage. The case has been handed to UAE prosecutors.

Local Coast Guard officials confirmed the incident and noted that the distressed crewmen on the Sri Lankan-flagged vessel were rescued by sailors on the other vessel.