The United States Navy successfully rescued 14 Indian seafarers on Sunday after the Indian-flagged mechanized sailing vessel, known as a dhow, named Virat-1 began sinking off the coast of Oman due to a mechanical failure. The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed that all rescued crew members are “safe and in good health” and have been transferred to a vessel that is currently en route to Mumbai.
Details of the Rescue Operation
In a post on X, US Central Command announced on Sunday, “US naval forces operating in the Middle East supported the rescue of 14 Indian mariners stranded in the Arabian Sea, June 14.” The US Naval Forces Central Command/US 5th Fleet reposted a news report detailing the rescue operation, which stated that upon receiving a distress call from the stranded sailors, a US Navy P-8 aircraft reached the location and dropped a search-and-rescue kit that included a life raft, which the 14 mariners boarded.
Sequence of Events
Official sources revealed that the US Navy had alerted shore authorities and the Indian Navy that a dhow carrying Indian sailors was sinking approximately 80 nautical miles east of Ras AI Hadd, off the coast of Oman. “The US Navy P-8 dropped a life raft and monitored the crew as they boarded it. The MV Jabal Ali 9 was requested by the P-8 to render assistance,” a source said.
The P-8 is an advanced, multi-mission maritime patrol and submarine aircraft. According to the report retweeted by US Central Command, “an MH-60S Sea Hawk rescued three others after their life raft capsized in the rough seas. An Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), also responded to the distress call.”
Confirmation from Indian Embassy
In an X post, the Indian Embassy in Oman stated, “Rescue operation involving Indian flagged MSV Virat-1 has been successfully completed. All 14 crew members have been rescued and are presently onboard Jabal Ali 9 heading to Mumbai.” Earlier in the day, the Indian mission reported that the vessel had experienced an engine failure, and the crew were eventually transferred safely to a life raft. The rescue operation was carried out with the assistance of ships in the vicinity, under the coordination of Omani authorities.
