Humbantota: In a swift response to a distress call, the Sri Lanka Navy successfully rescued the crew of the Merchant Vessel (MV) INTEGRITY STAR on 25 October and brought them to the Humbantota International Port this morning. The vessel encountered distress due to a failure in its main engines approximately 100 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka, leaving the crew in a precarious situation.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, upon receiving the distress alert, the Sri Lanka Navy, under the directives from the Ministry of Defence, swiftly deployed the SLNS Samudura for a search and rescue mission. This operation was coordinated through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.

The search and rescue operation by the Navy resulted in the safe recovery of all 14 crew members, who are nationals of India, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, MV MORNING GLORY, another Merchant Vessel in the vicinity, was also prepared to assist the distressed vessel, showcasing effective international cooperati
on in maritime emergency response.

The Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Colombo, operating from Naval Headquarters, leads Sri Lanka’s efforts to safeguard life at sea. It upholds the nation’s commitment to international maritime conventions by coordinating rescue missions not only within Sri Lanka’s search and rescue region but also in neighboring international waters, offering vital aid to the maritime and fishing communities in distress.