Monday 08 / June / 2026
Muscat: The Indian Embassy in Muscat said on Monday that it is coordinating with Omani authorities following an incident involving a vessel carrying 24 Indian seafarers off the coast of Oman.
In a post on X, the Embassy said: “The Mission is seized of an incident involving a ship with Indian sailors onboard. We are in touch with the Omani authorities for their rescue and safety.”
The statement came after India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) confirmed that a fire had broken out aboard the oil tanker MT Marivex south of the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing on developments in West Asia, Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director in the Shipping Division, said the fire was reported at around 1:30 pm on Monday.
“This is the preliminary information which we have received. Based on this, as per available information, all Indian seafarers are presently safe,” Sharma said.
According to Indian authorities, the tanker was operating in ballast condition and was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident. All 24 crew members onboard are Indian nationals.
Sharma said the ministry is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian diplomatic missions, the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence to ensure the safety and welfare of the crew.
“We are in touch with the owners, and we are trying to ascertain the facts. We are also in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and our mission in Oman,” he said.
Responding to questions about whether the vessel had been struck by a projectile, Sharma said authorities were still verifying the circumstances surrounding the incident. “Whether the ship was hit by a projectile or not, presently we are trying to get absolute information. The fire incident was reported at 1:30 today,” he said, adding that the vessel was “well out of the Strait of Hormuz and well clear to the south.”
Earlier, the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) had posted on X that the crew was seeking urgent assistance while sailing off the Omani coast.
The incident comes amid heightened maritime security concerns in the wider Gulf region, with authorities continuing efforts to determine the cause of the fire and ensure the safe recovery of all crew members.
