Kenya Navy’s elite unit, the Special Boat Unit (SBU) team rescued a crew of seven from a capsizing boat in Kenya’s waters of the Indian Ocean.
The elite squad’s leader Lieutenant (Lt) Eric Irungu explained that he received a signal from Kenya Navy Ship (KNS) Jasiri to attend to a distress call from MV Ferooz.
The crew of seven consisted of one Indian and six Tanzanians, the cohort was allegedly onboard MV Ferooz on a voyage to Kismayu, Somalia from Dar Salaam in Tanzania to trade in scrap metals.
Irungu and his team were quick to respond. They saved the crew from the flooding vessel whose engine had gone off. The boat was reportedly on the brink of capsizing.
The boat’s chief engineer, Swaleh Lamazani, expressed immense gratitude. He also reiterated the good treatment and cooperation accorded to them by the Kenya Navy service personnel throughout the process, adding it was a manifestation of a good relationship with the Kenyan authorities.
“We developed technical complications after our water pump failed and water started flooding the boat’s main engine shutting it down. Realizing that we were taking in more water than we could draw out, we placed a distress call and the Kenya Navy immediately came to our rescue,” narrated Lamazani.
KNS Jasiri noted a distress call from the boat which was captained by Muhamud Salim. Salim is described to have been grateful for the swift response.
“I am grateful to the Kenya Navy for their quick response and their efforts to save our lives,” the boat Captain emphasized.
The crew was finally handed over to Lamu Port Police Station for further processing.
As Kenya's defense system continues to grow sturdier, the training of its recruits also grows more intense.
A video shared by NTV on Tuesday, May 25, showed the grueling training regimen Kenya Navy officers undergo before being deployed to the battlefield.
