Bahrain’s Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh sent a cable to Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, expressing appreciation for the UAE National Guard’s efforts in the maritime rescue. In the message, reported by the Bahraini Council of Representatives, Al Saleh highlighted the Coast Guard Group’s efficiency and rapid response to the emergency aboard the oil tanker. The chairman noted that the operation reflected the unit’s preparedness and commitment to protecting lives while enhancing maritime safety in regional waters. He further stressed the value of coordinated regional efforts to secure vital shipping lanes.
The UAE National Guard announced that its Coast Guard team responded to a distress call after a fire broke out on the oil tanker MT GEM No. 2 in the Arabian Gulf. Specialist teams located the vessel, evacuated all 22 crew members of Asian nationality and provided them with first aid before handing them over to relevant authorities in stable condition, the Guard stated. This rescue, which took place on October 10, 2026, underscores the force’s operational readiness in handling maritime incidents, according to a Guard statement carried by Gulf News. The incident followed reports of the tanker being struck by an unidentified projectile the previous day.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately expressed similar appreciation for the UAE’s humanitarian response, as detailed in reports from Al Bilad Press. The ministry called for strengthened international cooperation to protect commercial vessels and crews while ensuring safe navigation through critical passages. Such collaboration supports global energy security and the flow of international trade, the ministry indicated in its statement. Officials from both countries have emphasized the role of these efforts in promoting broader regional stability.
The UAE National Guard has conducted comparable operations in recent years, including the rescue of 24 crew members from another oil tanker involved in a collision in the Gulf of Oman in June 2025, Khaleej Times reported. That earlier intervention similarly involved rapid deployment of search and rescue boats approximately 24 nautical miles off the UAE coast. These repeated successes demonstrate a consistent pattern of effective maritime emergency management by UAE forces, according to statements from the National Guard. The latest action adds to a record of safeguarding lives in the Arabian Gulf’s busy shipping routes.
Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh affirmed in his cable that the UAE’s actions embody a steadfast approach to joint work and the consolidation of security and stability, as cited by WAM. He extended wishes for continued prosperity for the UAE under its leadership, according to the Bahraini Council of Representatives’ release. The exchange between the two parliamentary leaders reflects ongoing strong ties between Bahrain and the UAE in addressing shared maritime challenges. No further details on the tanker’s ownership or the precise cause of the fire were disclosed in official statements.
