Emirati cargo ship sank near Asaluyeh

A car carrier belonging to the United Arab Emirates has sunk in the Persian Gulf near Assaluyeh. The General Directorate of Ports and Maritime Affairs of Bushehr Province has dispatched forces to the scene of the incident to rescue the ship's 30 crew members.

A cargo ship belonging to the United Arab Emirates sank on the morning of Thursday, March 16, 30 miles from the port of Assaluyeh in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

According to the Iranian Students News Agency, ISNA, the ship was carrying cars and sank due to adverse weather conditions and strong winds.

The head of the Maritime Safety and Security Department of the General Authority of Ports and Maritime Affairs of Bushehr told ISNA that the rescue operation for the ship's 30 crew members has begun.

According to him, two tugboats and 18 rescue boats have also been dispatched to the scene of the incident to rescue the passengers of the sunken ship.

Hojat Khosravi also said: "Given that 30 passengers on the Emirati ship are on the water wearing life jackets, a request for a helicopter has been sent to the relevant agencies, including the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, as soon as possible."

Analysis of maritime tracking data by the Associated Press indicates that the ship is the Al Salmy 6 ro-ro (a ship designed to transport and move wheeled vehicles).

The Dubai-based company that owns the ship declined to comment to The Associated Press about the ship and the accident. Images of the ship broadcast on the state news agency IRNA and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) match those of the Al Salmy 6.

The US Fifth Fleet, which patrols the waters of the Middle East, has refused to provide an explanation or response to the Associated Press in this regard.

Source: DW