Twelve Indian crew members were airlifted from an asphalt tanker called the Durban Queen which sank in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday.
The 1983-built vessel was near the coast of Qatar when it sent out distress signals.
A replenishment oiler from the America navy, the USS Kanawha, was the first to respond to the floundering vessel followed by French frigate, Cassard, rushing to aid the sinking ship’s crew.
According to reports the crew were clinging to the ship’s hull and were rescued just in time as it was beginning to go under.
Only minor injuries were sustained.
Durban Queen was part of a fleet by Prime Tankers, a United Arab Emirates company.
