A maritime emergency is unfolding near the port of Shinas in northern Oman after a commercial tanker caught fire, in what is now the third incident involving Indian-crewed vessels in Omani waters within 72 hours.
The Indian Embassy in Muscat has confirmed it has learnt of an incident involving a vessel off the coast of Oman and is closely monitoring the situation, in close contact with local authorities.
The vessel is identified in maritime reports as MT Jalveer, a Guinea-Bissau flagged tanker, with around 20 Indian crew members believed to be on board. Emergency coordination efforts by Omani authorities are under way, though the cause of the fire has not yet been independently confirmed.
The Jalveer incident follows the gravest development in this unfolding crisis – the confirmed deaths of three Indian sailors aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, struck by US forces off Oman’s coast on Wednesday night.
India’s shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed on Thursday that three Indian sailors aboard the MT Settebello were dead, calling it a profound loss to the country’s maritime community. The vessel was struck after a US warplane fired precision munitions into its engine room. Of the 24 Indian nationals aboard, 21 were rescued by Omani responders.
The IMO Secretary-General condemned any act from any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping. The Settebello strike was itself the second such incident in two days – on June 8, the MT Marivex was disabled by a US precision strike in the same waters, though all 24 Indian crew were rescued safely by Omani authorities.
Shipping minister Sonowal said officials have been instructed to fast-track the repatriation of the 21 Settebello survivors and ensure the swift return of the bodies of the deceased. The MT Jalveer situation continues to develop.
