KUWAIT CITY, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Kuwait Oil Tanker Company announced Thursday that one of its vessels rescued 40 refugees stranded in the Mediterranean Sea after their boat broke down.

In a statement carried by the Kuwait News Agency, the company said its vessel Al-Dasma responded to a distress call on Tuesday and rescued the refugees whose boat had become disabled and who had run out of food and water.

During its voyage to Egypt on Tuesday evening, the Al-Dasma spotted the stranded boat and coordinated with the Egyptian Search and Rescue Authority to carry out the rescue operation, the company added.

The tanker then continued its journey to Port Said, Egypt, where the refugees were safely disembarked on Thursday. ■