A vessel caught fire off the coast of Oman on Monday, with Indian authorities later announcing that all 24 Indian crew members on board were safe.
According to India’s shipping ministry, the fire was reported on the oil tanker Marivex, which had 24 Indian sailors on board.
Speaking on the incident, Opesh Kumar Sharma, a director in the federal Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the fire broke out aboard the MT Marivex at around 1:30 p.m. local time (0800 GMT). Following the incident, Sharma confirmed that all crew members were safe.
“All Indian seafarers are presently safe. We are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, our Indian missions abroad, the Indian Navy, and the Ministry of Defence to ensure their safety,” Sharma said.
He added that the cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Meanwhile, the Indian embassy said in a post on X that officials were in touch with Omani authorities regarding the rescue and safety of the sailors.
Earlier, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India said on X that the 24 Indian seafarers aboard the vessel off the coast of Oman were seeking urgent assistance. As authorities continued their response efforts, media reports claimed that the vessel caught fire due to a suspected drone or missile attack off the coast of Oman, which is adjacent to the contested Strait of Hormuz.
According to News18, citing maritime sources, the vessel caught fire due to a suspected drone or missile attack. The report said the explosion ripped through the ship’s engine room.
The incident occurred off Oman, which is adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, currently under blockade and close to the newly flared-up hostilities between Iran and Israel.
Regarding the vessel, Indian authorities identified the Marivex as a Madagascar-flagged tanker that was not carrying cargo. The Marivex was also described as an oil and chemical tanker sailing under the flag of Palau.
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