In brief
An Egyptian fishing vessel, Mohamed Abu al‑Azaim, and its nine crew were detained in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk region after mistakenly entering Saudi waters on Oct. 16. Diplomatic talks led to their release, and the boat departed with fuel, food and other supplies needed for safe travel back to Egypt. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged fishermen to heed maritime rules to avoid future incidents.
According to Xinhua, the Egyptian fishing vessel Mohamed Abu al‑Azaim and its nine crew have been released from detention in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk region and have departed for Egypt with supplies.
Xinhua reports the ship was seized on Oct. 16 after mistakenly entering Saudi territorial waters in the Red Sea. The detention lasted until Saturday when diplomatic talks concluded a release agreement.
During the talks the Egyptian Foreign Ministry agreed to provide the vessel with fuel, food and other necessities for its safe return. The ship left Tabuk carrying weely to reach Egyptian waters.
The ministry stated that the crew is now heading back to Egypt and urged fellow fishermen and boat operators to observe maritime navigation and fishing regulations, and to avoid entering neighboring countries’ waters without permits to prevent legal issues and ensure safety.
These statements are confirmed by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry as reported by Xinhua, and no unverified claims have been made concerning the incident.
