All 22 crew members rescued after tanker fire off UAE coast

All 22 crew members of the oil tanker MT GEM No. 2 were rescued after a fire broke out aboard the vessel off the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah coast on October 10. The UAE National Guard said everyone rescued was in stable medical condition.

The operation began after the tanker’s crew reported the fire. A Coast Guard team from the National Guard located and reached the vessel, brought everyone aboard to safety and gave them first aid. The rescued crew members were then handed over to the relevant authorities.

On October 11, India’s consulate in Dubai confirmed that the entire crew was safe. It said it was in contact with UAE authorities and offering assistance and support to the Indian seafarers.

The rescue follows other maritime emergencies in which UAE teams have helped crews in distress. In June 2025, the Coast Guard safely evacuated 24 crew members from the tanker ADALYNN after a collision in the Gulf of Oman. They were taken to the Port of Khor Fakkan.