KARACHI: The Pakistan Navy said on Thursday that it had successfully rescued 19 crew members aboard a fishing vessel stranded at sea south of Gwadar due to engine failure.

In a statement, the navy said that the fishing vessel Al Jalali was in distress about 120 nautical miles south of Gwadar. “A total of 19 crew members onboard the vessel, including 11 Pakistani and eight Iranian nationals, were stranded at sea due to engine failure of the vessel,” the navy said.

“The situation was further aggravated by deteriorating weather conditions in the north Arabian Sea during the ongoing monsoon, placing the lives of the crew in immediate danger,” it added.

It said that upon receiving the distress call, the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre promptly coordinated with Pakistan Navy to initiate an immediate search and rescue operation.

PNS Taimur was immediately tasked to undertake the rescue operation and provide assistance to the stranded fishing vessel, it said.

“​Owing to the swift and timely response, crew members of Al Jalali were provided with food, drinking water and medical care at sea, and the stranded vessel was thereafter towed safely towards shore,” it said.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026