24 Indian Seafarers Rescued from Tanker Affected by US Military Action Near Oman Coast
During a US military operation near Oman, a fire broke out on a tanker, leading to the rescue of 24 crew members. Indian officials confirmed that all rescued personnel are Indian nationals. The incident occurred on Monday. The crew sent distress messages reporting the fire spreading aboard the tanker and the vessel beginning to sink. There was no cargo on the tanker at the time.
This is the latest incident affecting commercial shipping in the Gulf region. Since the outbreak of hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran, maritime traffic in the Gulf has become increasingly risky. Military activities have intensified as sea routes in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz face disruptions. According to Opesh Kumar Sharma, an official from India’s Ministry of Ports and Waterways, the fire on the tanker named MT Mavericks broke out at approximately 1:30 pm local time on Monday. All rescued Indian crew members are safe, and the government is coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure their security.
Indian media report that all crew members on the tanker were rescued by an Omani helicopter and transferred to Masirah Island. Reuters reported that the US had previously sanctioned the MT Mavericks, citing its connections to Iran. The All India Seafarers Union, representing Indian professional sailors, stated that after receiving a distress signal following the fire outbreak, rescue operations were conducted while maintaining contact with the crew.
The US Central Command issued a statement noting that on June 8, US forces in the Gulf of Oman “neutralized an unmanned oil tanker.” The statement said the tanker was attempting to access an Iranian port, violating the ongoing blockade against Iran, thereby prompting the action. “After the crew failed to comply with US military orders, F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) targeted the ship’s engineering and steering compartments with missiles,” the statement read.
