KUWAIT: In a remarkable humanitarian achievement, Kuwait added a new milestone to its long-standing record of compassion as the Kuwaiti oil products tanker Al-Dasma, operated by Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), responded to a distress call and rescued 40 refugees stranded in the Mediterranean Sea after their boat broke down and they ran out of food and water.

In a statement to KUNA on Thursday, KOTC said the initiative reflects its unwavering commitment to international principles for the protection of lives at sea and reinforces Kuwait’s humanitarian role on the global stage. The company explained that on Tuesday evening, while en route to Egypt, Dasma spotted a disabled vessel carrying 40 refugees. In coordination with the Egyptian Search and Rescue Authority and KOTC’s office, the tanker altered its course to rescue the passengers, providing them with water, food and temporary shelter on board.

Dasma then continued its journey to Port Said, where on Thursday the refugees were safely disembarked in coordination with Egyptian authorities, following all necessary procedures in accordance with relevant international laws and humanitarian agreements. KOTC noted that this is not the company’s first such operation. On June 15, 2014, its crude oil tanker Al-Salmi carried out a similar rescue mission off the coast of Italy, saving a group of refugees in an effort that earned wide international praise and formal recognition from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The company emphasized that safety and marine environmental protection are core priorities of its strategy. These humanitarian missions are part of its broader efforts to integrate ethical and humanitarian values into its business operations, further cementing its leadership in the maritime transport sector.

KOTC affirmed that the rescue operation by Dasma is a practical demonstration of its ability to balance operational efficiency with humanitarian responsibility, and a sincere expression of Kuwait’s unwavering commitment to placing human life at the center of its concerns — whether through its maritime fleet or its development initiatives. “Saving lives at sea is not only a legal obligation,” the company stressed, “but also a moral duty that embodies the genuine humanitarian values upheld by the State of Kuwait.” – KUNA