Navy renders assistance to Kenyan flagged vessel in distress at High Seas

The Navy yet again has rendered assistance to a distressed Kenyan flagged vessel which was in total power failure for days at high seas. The Navy responding to a distress alert received at Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center (MRCC) Colombo on 21^st July 2020 rendered towing assistance to the distressed vessel which was drifting about 170 nautical miles (about 306 km) south of Sri Lanka. The vessel HORAKHTY (IMO No: 8805298) with 13 crew onboard made her last Port call at Busan, South Korea on 22^nd June and was heading to Mombasa, Kenya when experienced a total power failure onboard.

The Navy has been entrusted with the responsibility for maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in Sri Lanka’s Search and Rescue Region and has responded to distress calls of this nature many times before. The Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center that functions under Sri Lanka Navy ensures the nation’s obligations under international conventions such as the Safety Of Life At Sea convention of 1974, to which Sri Lanka is a signatory.

Last year alone Sri Lanka Navy responded to save 103 lives in 41 separate incidents involving maritime rescue operations. Further, during the past seven months the Navy has assisted 34 vessels in distress. The MRCC is maintaining regional connectivity and is equipped to function its role in making the seas safer for all.