Xin-Hai-Tong-29

All 24 crew members of the "Focomar" have been evacuated from Salmah Island safe and Sound on Aug 18. They were taken to Jibouti, ETA Aug 21. They have been provided with water and food by locals and by helicopter. It was not yet known why the crew abandoned the vessel.

A vessel designated to evacuate the crew of the "Focotra" from Salhah Island left Socotra anchorage on Aug 17 at 3 a.m. bound to Salhah. The delay of the rescue was caused by unfavourable weather. The 24 crew members the Russian master, 19 Ukrainians, two Filipinos and two Greek.

In the evening of Aug 13 the crew of the "Focomar", Russian master, five Ukrainians, among them the chief officer, the chief engineer and the 4th Engineer, and 15 Russians as well as some Filipino and two Greek technicians who were not regular crew members who carried out technical maintenance work, was still on Salhah island. The rescue was hampered by adverse weather. The castaways were to be evacuated by a local vessel and taken to Salalah or Socotra. The Bulkcarrier was still under tow of the "Mubarak Challenger" (IMO: 9542958), proceeding towards the UAE and was 160 nm east of Salalah on Aug 13.