Djibouti(Mogadishu24)-A swift and coordinated rescue operation led by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) successfully saved the crew of the MV/ISA STAR cargo ship after it was attacked in the Red Sea on the night of December 5.

The vessel, carrying machinery en route from the Adriatic Sea to Batam, Indonesia, suffered catastrophic flooding in its engine room following the attack. In a desperate call for help, the captain reported the imminent abandonment of the ship, with 20 crew members—including 15 Indians, an Indonesian, a Vietnamese, a Nepali, and two Sri Lankans—left stranded.

The crew, forced to leave behind essential belongings and documents, endured harrowing hours before being rescued. Fortunately, no hazardous cargo was aboard the ship.

Responding urgently to the distress call, Djibouti mobilized its maritime resources under the ASPIDES framework. The tugboat Barkhat Gourad Hamadou was dispatched and successfully brought the sailors to safety, repatriating them to Djibouti Port—a beacon of security in the region.

“The safety of sailors is an absolute priority, as they are the unseen drivers of global trade,” said the DPFZA president, highlighting Djibouti’s commitment to maritime security. As a signatory to the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Djibouti once again demonstrated its critical role in safeguarding vital shipping routes.

This rescue operation underscores Djibouti’s solidarity and leadership in maritime safety, reaffirming its status as a regional hub for stability and a haven for sailors navigating the world’s strategic waterways.