Russian shipping group Sovcomflot (SCF), which is currently under Western sanctions, successfully conducted a rescue operation for the crew of a waterlogged tanker off the coast of Yemen earlier this week.

On June 23, while navigating southeast of the port of Nishtun in southern Yemen, Sovcomflot’s tanker NS Africa responded to a distress call from the tanker Lavant. The Lavant’s crew had abandoned their ship and were stranded in a life raft in the open sea.

“At 1410 local time, the crew of the tanker NS Africa carried out an operation to rescue 19 sailors, among whom were citizens of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia,” Sovcomflot said in a statement. The rescued seafarers are scheduled to disembark at the Egyptian port of Suez on June 29.

No injuries or missing crew members were reported. Efforts to contact Lavant’s operators for comment have been unsuccessful. Maritime security sources indicated that the vessel was unlikely to have been targeted by Yemen’s Houthi militants. The Iran-aligned Houthis have previously launched drone and missile strikes in the region, particularly on the trade route, in a series of over 70 attacks since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

These attacks have resulted in the sinking of two vessels, the seizure of another, and the death of at least three seafarers. The fate of another vessel, the Verbena cargo ship, which was attacked by the Houthis earlier in June and subsequently abandoned by its crew, remains unknown. In the broader context, aging tankers affected by sanctions represent significant risks, adding to the already perilous maritime environment.

Earlier this week, the European Union imposed sanctions on Sovcomflot, following the U.S. designation of 14 of its tankers earlier this year. Notably, these designations did not include the NS Africa. Sanctions on shipping companies are undermining safety at sea and pose dangers for global trade, Sovcomflot’s CEO highlighted in comments released on Tuesday. The company asserts that the impact on ship standards due to sanctions is a growing concern for maritime safety.