Attack on the MV Verbena: the tug Omar Dankali dispatched to assist the survivors

On Thursday 13 June 2024, the MV Verbena, a Palau-flagged vessel owned by Ukrainian interests and operated by a Polish company, was attacked in the Gulf of Aden, around 70 miles from Djibouti. The MV Anna Meta (56,300 dwt) intervened to rescue the crew of the attacked vessel, 500 metres outside territorial waters, approximately 30 nautical miles off the coast of Djibouti.

In accordance with the provisions of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority quickly dispatched the tug Omar Dankali to assist the survivors of the attack.

The nationalities of those rescued are as follows:

18 Ukrainians
1 Indian
1 Sri Lankan
3 Nepalese

Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, underlined the crucial role of seafarers with the following message: “No seafarers at sea, no maritime trade. They are sacrificing their lives for us.”