Operation Umeed-e-Nuh
| Operation Umeed-e-Nuh (Operation Hope of Noah) | |
|---|---|
| Part of Piracy in Somalia, Operation Ocean Shield, and Somali Pirates attacks on merchant ships | |
 |
|
| Location | Arabian Sea |
| Planned |
 Pakistan Navy
|
| Planned by |
Special Services Group Navy Naval Intelligence |
| Objective | Provide humanitarian assistance to MV Suez evacuation of the crew |
| Date | June 16-June 19, 2011 13:13 PST – 15:10 PST |
| Executed by |
PNS Babur F-251 PNS Zulfiqar |
| Outcome | Operation successful |
| Casualties | None |
Operation Umeed-e-Nuh (Operation Hope of Noah), was a naval humanitarian and a rescue operation in order to secure the merchant vessel MV Suez. The operation was carried out by the Pakistan Navy. The merchant vessel MV Suez operated under the flag of Panama and had an Egyptian owner, Red Sea Navigation. On August 2, 2010, the vessel was attacked and taken hostage by Somali pirates. Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney and Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan managed to secure the release of the 22 men crew with a payout of US$2.1 million. The pirates released the vessel on 16 June 2011. However, multiple issues involving low fuel and deteriorated operational and material meant that the crew needed additional help from the Pakistan Navy.
Upon receiving request for help by the commanding officer Captain Syed Wasi Hassan, the Pakistan Navy dispatched its combatant frigates and naval helicopters to escort the merchant vessel to safety. On Monday, 13 June 2011, naval frigate PNS Babur successfully evacuated and later shifted the crew members to safety on F-251 PNS Zulfiqar. The crew members, consisting of 4 Pakistanis, 6 Indians, 11 Egyptians and one Sri Lankan, were successfully brought to land at the port city of Karachi.
The MV Suez was a merchant vessel carrying a cargo of cement bags from Karachi, Pakistan to Eritrea. The vessel displayed the Panamanian flag and was owned by the Egyptian maritime company, Red Sea Navigation Company, of Port Tawfiq. The ship had a 22-member crew with 11 Egyptians, 6 Indians, 4 Pakistanis and a Sri Lankan, including and under the command of Captain Syed Wasi Hassan. The merchant vessel had a dead-weight of 17,300 tonnes.
...
Wikipedia