Indian embassy confirms all seafarers rescued as investigations continue amid regional tensions
An oil tanker carrying 24 Indian crew members was disabled and later caught fire in the Gulf of Oman after being targeted by US forces for allegedly attempting to breach a blockade on Iranian ports, according to officials.
The vessel, MT Marivex, a Palau-flagged and unladen tanker, was intercepted on 8 June while travelling through international waters towards Iran. The US military said the ship had ignored repeated instructions from American forces and was subsequently struck by a precision munition fired from an F/A-18 Super Hornet operating from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
In a statement, the US military said the strike targeted the vessel’s engineering and steering systems, preventing it from continuing its voyage. It added that the tanker had violated an ongoing blockade by attempting to reach an Iranian port.
Indian authorities did not comment on the US military action but confirmed that all 24 Indian seafarers aboard the vessel were safely evacuated. The rescue operation was carried out with assistance from Omani authorities.
India’s Embassy in Muscat thanked Oman for its swift response and confirmed that all crew members were safe. Officials said the tanker was neither Indian-owned nor operated
According to sources, the vessel had been blacklisted by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The ship reportedly made several attempts in recent days to evade US naval monitoring, including switching off its tracking systems and entering Omani waters. Sources alleged that the tanker again attempted to bypass the blockade on 8 June by travelling through Omani territorial waters while operating without active tracking signals.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. Earlier in the day, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India had sought urgent assistance for the crew after contact with the vessel raised concerns.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.
