Pakistani Navy Aids Indian Ship Stranded in Arabian Sea

In a remarkable display of international cooperation, the Pakistani Navy has responded to a distress call from an Indian ship stranded in the Arabian Sea. The vessel, MV Gautam, faced a critical technical failure while en route from Oman to India. The Pakistani Navy, along with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, provided essential support, including food and medical aid, to the crew members. This incident highlights the importance of maritime collaboration between neighboring countries. Additionally, the article recalls a previous rescue operation by the Indian Navy, which successfully evacuated crew members from a fire-stricken vessel in the same region. Read on to learn more about these maritime rescue efforts.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 6, 2026, 17:16 IST

Pakistani Navy Responds to Distress Call

Mumbai: According to reports, the Pakistani Navy has come to the aid of an Indian vessel that found itself in distress in the Arabian Sea. The ship encountered a significant technical issue while navigating the waters. The Pakistani Navy provided essential support to the crew, including food, medical assistance, and technical help. The MV Gautam, which was traveling from Oman to India, reported a malfunction, as noted by the Pakistani Dawn newspaper on Monday, citing security sources. The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) also played a role in the rescue operation.

The operation to assist the crew, consisting of six Indians and one Indonesian, was initiated after the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre in Mumbai reached out to Pakistani officials for help, the report indicated.

Indian Navy's Previous Rescue: In June of last year, the Indian Navy successfully rescued 18 crew members from the MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged container ship that caught fire due to an internal explosion in the Arabian Sea. The distress signal was received by the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) around 0930 hours. The Navy quickly dispatched INS Surat and a Dornier maritime patrol aircraft, working in conjunction with the Indian Coast Guard, Directorate General of Shipping, and other maritime entities. By 1630 hours, INS Surat had managed to evacuate 18 out of 22 crew members from the burning vessel. The Indian Navy provided immediate medical care to those injured, and the ship is now heading to New Mangalore Port for further treatment and disembarkation.