Dubai/Oman, 02 March (H.S.): Amid West Asia's spiraling tensions, an oil tanker northwest of Sultan Qaboos Port was struck by a remotely operated explosive boat Monday, killing one Indian crew member while the rest were safely rescued.
The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, carrying ~59,463 metric tons of cargo, suffered a massive explosion and fire in its main engine room 52 nautical miles off Muscat. Oman's Maritime Security Centre coordinated the evacuation of 21 crew—16 Indians, 4 Bangladeshis, 1 Ukrainian—via Panama-flagged MV Sand.
Gulf News and Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported the unmanned vessel's impact, with Oman's Royal Navy now monitoring the damaged ship and assessing conditions.
The strike follows US-Israel's Saturday offensive killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others, prompting Tehran's drone-missile retaliation across Gulf states hosting US bases. Shipping routes face heightened risks as investigations proceed.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
