JEDDAH — On Wednesday (April 22), the Saudi Border Guard Ship Farasan evacuated a 35-year-old Ukrainian sailor suffering from kidney problems on board a ship in the Red Sea north west of Farasan Island in Jazan.

The spokesman of Border Guard Lt. Col. Misfer Ghannam Al-Quraini stated that the Jeddah Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (JMRCC) received a call from the company operating the ship (MV Sterling Palm), flying the flag of Mongolia, indicating that one of the crew member was suffering from kidney problems, but with no symptoms of COVID-19, and needed medical evacuation.

The Border Guard acted in accordance with implementing the commitments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) 1979, and in continuation to the humanitarian tasks provided by Border Guard in search and rescue operations.

He added that JMRCC immediately managed the incident and identified the location of the ship that was about 88 nautical miles northwest of Farasan Island.

Applying the national plan to manage maritime disasters within the waters of KSA, the center set up a contact with the captain of the ship and informed him to head toward the meeting point. All COVID-19 precautionary measures have been applied.

The official spokesman assured that in the early morning, Border Guard's Farasan ship reached Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul-Aziz Maritime Base in Jazan and the patient was taken to Al-Hayat Hospital accompanied by a medical staff.

His condition was stable. The ship agent was notified to finalize the regular measures with the relevant authorities. — SG