Two crew members died when a 45-metre supply boat snapped its moorings and crashed into the port breakwater at Mina Khalid, before taking on water and sinking in around 10 metres of water.
The other six crew members of the Fadak were rescued after Sharjah Port staff fought rough seas and gale-force winds during a six-hour battle in the early hours of Sunday.
The vessel is owned by an Iraqi, with all crew members also being Iraqis.
After treatment for shock, extended exposure and exhaustion at Kuwaiti Hospital, all six survivors were discharged, with all barring one miraculously escaping unhurt. The sole injury was to one seaman's foot.
But the incident also raised anew the need for a dedicated team trained to handle such emergencies in the UAE.
Captain Magdad Al Suwedy, Senior Harbour Master, who headed operations during the dramatic six-hour overnight rescue, explai-ned two tugs, the Sharjah 1 and the Layyah, and a pilot boat, the Sils 2, were primarily instrumental in saving the crew members.
He said it was truly "a dark and stormy night" as related in novels, with the action starting around 10pm and continuing until 4am the next morning.
"I was alerted around 10pm that the Fadak, with her cargo holds empty and consequently riding light, had broken her anchor cable and was drifting towards the breakwater, and immediately rushed to the port," he recounted.
"When I got there, I found the ship's engine was out of order. All the eight crew members had gathered on deck and were shouting desperately for help. With time of the essence, I at once got the two tugs and a pilot to head for the Fadak and attempt a rescue."
At this point, the stricken vessel was just 20 metres or so from the breakwater - and even as they watched, she crashed into one corner of the wall, instantly pitching five of the men overboard.
The men had luckily already donned their life-jackets, and the ensuing hectic rescue efforts saw three of the crew being pulled out of the water by the Sharjah Port staff towards 1am.
Capt Al Suwedy at this point assessed it would be very difficult to get the three men still aboard the fast-filling vessel, and radioed for help.
"A request for helicopter assistance had Commander of the Coast Guard, Brig Juma Abu Ships, responding immediately, with the pilot, Capt Salem Al Suwaidi, bravely attempting to rescue the seamen. But the 55-knot winds, the violent up-and-down movement of the Fadak in the 'sea state 8' weather - or 20-foot waves, when translated from nautical terms - and the near total darkness combined to make matters impossible to the properly position the chopper despite at least four attempts."
With the Fadak by now listing heavily to port, the rescuers redoubled their efforts, aided by the spotlight trained by the helicopter on the operation theatre, and the three others were eventually brought to safety by around 4am.
Tragically, two of those swept overboard perished, with one body found during the rescue, and the other discovered during Sunday.
Capt Al Suwedy said a freak incident at around the same time saw another supply vessel, the Jihad, break her moorings at anchorage and drift away, eventually going aground just off the Sharjah Women's Club.
"The owners have been directed to have their vessels salvaged as soon as possible," he added.
Noting such instances are a relatively common occurrence in UAE waters especially during the shamaal season, the senior harbour master of 23 years' standing stressed the need for a dedicated rescue team trained to handle such emergencies, complete with specialised equipment and vehicles.
Gulf News 2003
