Fire Breaks Out on Oil Tanker Off Oman Coast
Indian Embassy, Shipping Ministry Coordinate With Omani Authorities After Incident Aboard Marivex
- Fire reported aboard Madagascar-flagged oil tanker Marivex off Oman coast
- All 24 Indian crew members reported safe
- Vessel was travelling from Karwar to Duqm without cargo
- Indian Embassy and Shipping Ministry monitoring situation closely
GG News Bureau
Muscat/New Delhi, 9th June: A fire broke out aboard the foreign-flagged oil tanker Marivex off the coast of Oman on Monday, triggering an emergency response involving Omani authorities and Indian agencies. All 24 Indian seafarers on board were reported safe.
The vessel, registered under the Madagascar flag, was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident. According to maritime tracking data, the tanker was sailing from Karwar in Karnataka to Duqm in Oman when the fire was reported.
The Indian Embassy in Oman said it was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities.
“The Mission is seized of an incident involving a ship with Indian sailors onboard. We are in touch with the Omani authorities for their rescue and safety,” the embassy said in a post on X.
Officials said the fire broke out at around 1.30 pm local time. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, and investigations are expected to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.
Shipping Ministry Director Opesh Kumar Sharma confirmed that all Indian crew members were safe and that the government was working with multiple agencies to ensure their welfare.
“All Indian seafarers are presently safe. We are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, our Indian Missions abroad, the Indian Navy, and the Ministry of Defence to ensure their safety,” Sharma said.
The incident comes amid heightened focus on maritime safety in the region. Sharma noted that the Directorate General of Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of 3,506 Indian seafarers so far, including 32 in the last 96 hours.
Authorities in Oman are continuing rescue and safety operations, while Indian officials remain in constant contact with the crew and local agencies.
Further details regarding the extent of damage to the vessel and the cause of the fire are awaited.
