Omani fisherman honoured for saving Tanzanian ship crew

Muscat: Omani fisherman Fayiz Al Junaibi, who rescued the entire crew of a sinking ship, has been thanked by Minister of Transport and Communications Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim Al Futaisi.
The Duqm fisherman met the minister to receive a token of the government’s appreciation for his efforts after he saved 20 men from a sinking ship.
“Noble humanitarian action of Fayiz Al Junaibi, who rescued the crew of the sunken ship off the coast of Al Jazer,” the minister said online.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, Al Junaibi said: “I am feeling very proud after being honoured today by Dr. Ahmed Al Futaisi.”
On Wednesday, Al Junaibi was honoured by Taher Al Junaibi, member of the Shura Council.
This honour comes in the wake of efforts made by Al Junaibi to save the lives of the sunken ship’s crew, near the coast of Al Jazer.
The ship ran into trouble during the weekend and started getting flooded.
The crew had sent a mayday message and Al Junaibi took his and one other fishing boat on a 25-minute rescue mission, successfully rescuing all aboard.
Meanwhile, a process in underway to send all the 20 crew members to their home country.
A company spokesperson said: “We have already sent the two Somali nationals home on Wednesday and the rest will leave very soon.”
He also claimed: “All the sailors have agreed to receive whatever money they owe from the company in their home countries. We will settle everyone’s dues after their repatriation. And if we get any insurance claim, we will also compensate them.”
He added that efforts are on to salvage the Tanzanian registered cargo ship before the port of Al-Labki in Wilayat Jazir.
“But this will take time. We can’t say how much time it will take but I guess it might take 15 days or more. Then the process will begin to re-activate the ship,” the company spokesperson said.
The ship was carrying building and steel materials and was heading to Eritrea when water started entering the ship. There were around 14 Pakistanis, four Indians and two Somali nationals on board the Tanzanian registered cargo ship.
A section of crew members said they were not willing to leave Oman unless their dues are settled. “But now we have no other option,” one of them said.