Indian Navy Airlifts 24 Sailors From Burning Tanker Off Oman
Mumbai-Indian Navy helicopters rescued 24 Indian sailors from a tanker that caught fire off the coast of Oman on Monday, Indian authorities said, with all crew members reported safe.
India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said a fire broke out at around 1:30 p.m. local time aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex while it was operating off Oman’s coast.
“There has been a fire reported on a vessel, MT Marivex, on which there were 24 Indian seafarers. All Indian seafarers are safe,” ministry director Opesh Kumar Sharma told reporters.
Images shared by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India showed Indian Navy helicopters winching crew members from the vessel as thick black smoke engulfed parts of the ship, including the bridge and accommodation block.
Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the tanker south of Oman’s capital, Muscat, at the time of the incident.
Authorities did not disclose the cause of the fire or provide details on damage to the vessel.
The rescue comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, where shipping routes have faced disruptions since the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel earlier this year.
India’s foreign ministry on Monday reiterated concerns over the regional conflict, saying it had caused significant human suffering and disrupted global energy supplies and economic activity.
