The United Arab Emirates Coast Guard has rescued 22 crew members after a fire broke out aboard a cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman. All those rescued were reported to be in stable condition.
The UAE National Guard confirmed the operation in a statement shared on social media platform X. It said the crew had contacted a Coast Guard unit after a fire started on their vessel.
The distress call prompted an immediate response from specialised rescue teams. They activated emergency procedures, located the cargo ship and moved to evacuate everyone on board.
The Coast Guard successfully brought all 22 crew members to safety. The rescued individuals were of Arab nationalities, according to the National Guard.
After the evacuation, rescue personnel provided first aid to the crew members. They were then handed over to the relevant authorities for further assistance. Officials confirmed that all 22 people were in stable condition.
The National Guard said the successful operation showed the readiness and field capabilities of its Coast Guard personnel. It also highlighted their ability to respond quickly to maritime emergencies and protect lives at sea.
The agency said its teams remained committed to handling incidents involving vessels operating in the region. Their swift response, it added, reflected the importance of maintaining strong rescue capabilities in busy maritime areas.
The Gulf of Oman is an important route for commercial shipping. Vessels carrying goods and energy supplies pass through the wider region every day. Emergencies such as onboard fires can put crew members at serious risk and require fast action from nearby rescue units.
A fire aboard a cargo ship can spread quickly, especially when fuel, machinery and other flammable materials are present. Smoke, heat and damage to onboard systems can also make evacuation difficult.
In such situations, a fast distress call can help rescue teams reach a vessel before conditions become more dangerous. The latest operation showed how the UAE Coast Guard responded after receiving an alert from the ship’s crew.
The rescue also comes as UAE authorities continue efforts to strengthen maritime safety and respond to emergencies involving commercial vessels. The National Guard has carried out similar operations in recent months.
On October 10, the Coast Guard Division rescued another group of 22 people after a fire broke out aboard an oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf. The crew members in that incident were Asian nationals.
The earlier rescue followed a similar process. Coast Guard personnel received a distress call from the tanker, activated emergency response procedures and located the vessel.
Specialised teams then reached the ship and evacuated all 22 people on board. The rescued crew members received first aid before being transferred to the relevant authorities.
All 22 individuals from that operation were also reported to be in stable condition.
The two incidents highlight the role of the UAE’s maritime rescue services in protecting people working aboard commercial ships. Both operations involved fires at sea, emergency calls from vessels and the safe evacuation of all crew members.
They also show the importance of coordination between ship crews, rescue teams and the authorities responsible for handling maritime incidents.
The latest operation ended without any reported loss of life among the rescued crew. However, officials did not provide further details about the cause of the fire, the vessel’s name, its cargo or the extent of the damage.
The National Guard’s statement focused on the successful evacuation and the condition of the crew. It did not say whether the fire had been fully extinguished or whether an investigation into its cause had begun.
For now, the safe rescue of all 22 crew members remains the main outcome of the incident. The UAE National Guard said its personnel would continue to respond to maritime emergencies and work to protect lives across the country’s surrounding waters.
