New Delhi, 09 June (H.S.): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said that all 24 Indian crew members aboard the Palau-flagged vessel MT Marivex were safely rescued following an attack near the coast of Oman. The Indian Embassy coordinated with Omani authorities to facilitate the evacuation of the sailors and expressed gratitude to the Government of Oman for its assistance.

Speaking on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the attack occurred on the Palau-flagged vessel MT Marivex near the Omani coast. Prior to the incident, there had been some communication between the vessel’s crew and the United States Navy. The ship was carrying a crew of 24 members, all of whom were Indian nationals.

“All crew members have been safely evacuated,” Jaiswal said, adding that the Indian Embassy worked closely with Omani authorities during the rescue operation. He noted that the ministry remains in contact with the sailors through the embassy and thanked Oman for its swift support.

The incident came to light on Monday at approximately 2:20 p.m., when the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai received information about the attack. The alert was reportedly provided by a relative of one of the sailors aboard the vessel.

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, MRCC Mumbai immediately contacted the Oman Maritime Search and Rescue Centre (OMSRC) and requested urgent assistance for the crew. Omani authorities responded promptly and launched a rescue operation.

At around 5:00 p.m., the Oman Maritime Search and Rescue Centre confirmed that helicopters of the Royal Navy of Oman had successfully evacuated all 24 Indian sailors from the vessel. The crew members were transported to a safe location, and no casualties or injuries were reported.

The Indian Coast Guard also stated on social media platform X that MRCC Mumbai had established immediate coordination with Omani rescue agencies upon receiving the distress information, enabling the successful evacuation of all Indian nationals aboard the vessel.

Earlier, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) had said in a statement that on June 8, U.S. forces intercepted an empty tanker in the Gulf of Oman. According to the statement, the vessel was attempting to violate a naval blockade by heading toward an Iranian port. CENTCOM stated that after the crew failed to comply with instructions issued by U.S. forces, an F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft carried out a strike on the vessel.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar