The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday condemned the attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman, confirming that 21 of the 24 Indian crew members onboard had been rescued, while three Indians remained missing.
Attack on Commercial Vessel Settebello
In an official statement, the MEA said, "We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 24 Indian crew onboard, 21 Indians have been rescued thus far and 03 Indians are reportedly missing. Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation."
Concerns Over Regional Security
The MEA expressed deep concern over the broader security situation in the region, stating that "the continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region." India reiterated its call for "immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region."
The ministry further emphasized that "the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region in keeping with international law must be restored at the earliest."
Embassy Monitoring Situation
The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation involving the vessel off the coast of Oman and is in contact with local authorities. Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a fire broke out aboard a tanker approximately 37 kilometers northeast of Sohar, Oman. According to UKMTO, the fire originated in the vessel's engine room, resulting in one casualty, though no further details were provided.
Previous Incident with Palau-Flagged Tanker
The attack comes after a Palau-flagged tanker was hit on Monday, and 24 Indian crew members were rescued. On Tuesday, India expressed gratitude to the Omani government for its support in rescuing the 24 Indian crew members from the Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex, which caught fire after being attacked by the US Navy off the coast of Oman.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Our embassy, for the rescue purpose, contacted the Omani authorities, who swung into action. We are grateful to the Omani government for its excellent support in rescuing the crew and ensuring their safety. Our mission continues to be in touch with the seafarers."
US Navy Involvement
Addressing the weekly media briefing, Jaiswal mentioned that there was communication between the crew of MT Marivex and the US Navy before the vessel was disabled by American forces off the coast of Oman. He confirmed that all Indian crew members onboard were rescued safely. "The ship MT Marivex was disabled off the coast of Oman. We have learned that it is a Palau-flagged vessel. We also understand there was some exchange of communication between the ship and the US Navy before the incident. There were 24 crew members on board the ship, all of them being Indian nationals. They all have been rescued and are safe," Jaiswal said.
The MEA remarks came a day after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US forces had disabled MT Marivex in the Gulf of Oman on June 8. According to CENTCOM, the Palau-flagged oil tanker was allegedly attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in violation of the US-led blockade against Iran, and was hit after the "crew failed to comply with directions from US forces." As per Al Jazeera, both US and Iranian forces have attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire took hold in April.
