An unladen oil tanker, MT Marivex, with 24 Indian crew members on board was disabled and later caught fire in the Gulf of Oman on Monday following a US military action, according to officials. The US military stated that an F/A-18 Super Hornet fired a precision munition at the vessel after it allegedly violated a blockade of Iran’s ports and ignored directions from US forces.
US Military Action
US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex was disabled as it transited international waters in the Gulf of Oman toward Iran. An F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired a precision munition into the ship's engineering and steering spaces after the crew failed to comply with directions from US forces. CENTCOM added that the Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran.
Indian Crew Evacuated
Indian officials, while not acknowledging the US warplane hit, confirmed that all 24 Indian seafarers on board were safely evacuated with the assistance of Omani authorities, as per ANI sources. A shipping ministry official stated that the vessel was not Indian-owned and was reportedly blacklisted by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Background of the Incident
Sources revealed that the ship had made multiple attempts in recent days to evade US naval warnings, including switching off tracking signals and entering Omani waters, after which it was disabled. On June 8, the ship made another attempt to run past the blockade by using Omani territorial waters, switching off its signal devices to avoid detection.
“This pattern makes it clear that its intention was not above board. The ship was in an unladen state when it was disabled,” said a source on condition of anonymity.
Official Response
India’s Embassy in Muscat confirmed the safe evacuation of all crew members and thanked Omani authorities for their swift response. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
For further updates on the US-Iran conflict, follow live coverage.
About the Author: Trisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with a keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.
