KARACHI, Dec 23: The Maritime Security Agency provided rescue assistance to an Indian cargo dhow ‘Noore Panjtani’ with 11 crew onboard. On December 22, the dhow made a distress call regarding heavy flooding onboard due to which the dhow was reported to be sinking.

On receiving the distress call, the Maritime Security Agency immediately tasked its defender aircraft with media personnel onboard to provide rescue assistance to the dhow, an MSA release said on Saturday.

The MSA defender aircraft located the dhow at 23-NM south of the Ormara Naval Base and passed its position to Pakistan Navy ships 'Rajshahi' and 'Kalmat' tasked by PN on MSA's request. The MSA defender aircraft coordinated search and rescue efforts with both the PN ships.

Maritime Security Agency Ship 'Nusrat', which was operating near Gwadar, was also tasked to arrive in the area for rendering necessary assistance to the Indian dhow. The PN ships provided help in the form of de-flooding pumps and equipment, and also provided fuel to the dhow. After this, the dhow was escorted 13 nautical miles off Ormara to the West Bay.—PPI