Umm Al Quwain: An Iranian cargo ship carrying barrels sank yesterday about 10 nautical miles off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, but all six crewmen were rescued, an official at Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence told Gulf News.
The Iranian ship registered as Al Jasourah sank in UAE waters in a storm which battered the northern emirates waters. It sank in deep water between Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah on Friday morning at around 10,30am.
The ship had left Sharjah and was heading for Iran at the time of the incident, said authorities.
Officials were working yesterday to confirm whether the barrels were empty or not.
The nature of the goods aboard the ship if any at the time of the sinking were not known as of press time yesterday.
The operation room of Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence received an emergency call reporting that a cargo ship was struggling in rough seas yesterday morning and that its crew members had sent out a distress call.
Umm Al Quwain Civil Defence, Umm Al Quwain Police, Police Air Wing and UAE Coast Guard despatched resources to the last-reported vicinity of the vessel.
Six Iranian sailors serving aboard were airlifted to safety by police helicopter supported by Coast Guard vessels,
The Al Jasourah crew were reportedly exhausted after their ordeal on the high seas and immediately transferred to Al Quwain Hospital. One of the mariners was treated for a leg injury while another was treated for injuries in his midriff where he said he was struck by a loose barrel —
doctors are keeping him under observation and X-rays will be taken, an official at Umm Al Quwain hospital told Gulf News.
The other four sailors suffered minor injuries, the hospital spokesperson said.
Police, meanwhile, said that the sailors were in possession of the proper passports at the time of the incident as UAE authorities launch an investigation into the sinking.
High waves and winds
The National Centre for Meteorology and Siesmology yesterday issued a warning that high winds could cause problems at sea and on land.
The centre also expects a surge of sea water in the eastern coastal areas, and advised people to be alert and take necessary protective measures in case of strong waves hitting the shore.
“The sea is rough to very rough in both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman,” said the NCMS in a statement.
The weather was forecast to destabilise in the afternoon due to high pressure over the southeast of Iran and the low pressure over central UAE, said the centre.
“The easterly and southeasterly wind is expected to accelerate over the nort eastern regions and may exceed 45km/h with dust and blowing sand,” said the NCMS weather alert.
