Fire breaks out on oil tanker carrying 24 Indian crew members near Oman; all seafarers reported safe
A fire erupted aboard Madagascar-flagged oil tanker MT Marivex off coast of Oman. Authorities confirmed that all 24 Indian crew members are safe as investigations into the incident continue
PTC Web Desk: A fire was reported aboard an oil tanker carrying 24 Indian seafarers off the coast of Oman on Monday, prompting Indian authorities to launch a coordinated response to ensure the crew's safety. According to officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Madagascar-flagged vessel MT Marivex sent an alert after a blaze was detected around 1:30 pm IST.
Preliminary information indicated that the tanker was operating in waters south of Muscat when the incident occurred.
Opesh Sharma, a senior official in the ministry, confirmed that all 24 crew members on board are Indian nationals. He said initial reports suggest that everyone aboard is safe and that the government is closely monitoring the situation.
The vessel was reportedly not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident and was positioned outside the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of the fire, stating that investigations are still underway.
Indian agencies, including the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence, have been engaged in efforts to maintain contact with relevant stakeholders and assess the evolving situation.
Maritime tracking platforms showed the tanker anchored south of the Omani capital. Early reports indicated that the ship had issued a distress signal while heading towards the port of Duqm. Some preliminary accounts suggested the vessel may have come under attack, although no official confirmation has been issued regarding the circumstances leading to the fire.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of renewed tensions in the Middle East. Fresh military exchanges were reported between Israel and Iran, marking a significant escalation following a period of relative calm after a ceasefire.
On Monday, Israeli forces reportedly targeted a petrochemical installation in southwestern Iran and carried out strikes on additional military locations. The developments came despite reports that US President Donald Trump had advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against expanding military operations.
Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accused the United States of breaching ceasefire understandings and claimed it had responded by launching missiles at a petrochemical facility in the Israeli city of Haifa.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation surrounding the MT Marivex while efforts remain focused on safeguarding the crew and determining the exact cause of the onboard fire.