US Navy Coordinates Rescue of 14 Indian Nationals from Sinking Dhow off Oman Coast
A major rescue operation was launched off the coast of Oman after a dhow carrying 14 Indian nationals began sinking on Sunday, according to sources. The distress situation unfolded approximately 80 nautical miles east of Ras Al Hadd, Oman, on the morning of June 14.
Upon receiving information that the vessel was in danger, the US Navy alerted shore authorities to launch an emergency response. In a swift rescue maneuver, a US Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft responded by dropping a life raft near the vessel and monitoring the evacuation of those onboard. The US Navy also coordinated surface assistance from a nearby merchant vessel, MV Jabal Ali 9, a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged ship.
Following these measures, the crew members embarked onto the life raft after the dhow reportedly started sinking. Sources stated that the exact cause behind the sudden sinking was not immediately known.
Confirming the ongoing developments, the Embassy of India in Muscat stated on Sunday: "The Mission has learnt of an incident involving an Indian Flagged Mechanised Sailing Vessel Virat 1, off the coast of Oman, reportedly embarked with 14 Indian crew. Search and Rescue is being coordinated with the Omani authorities and vessels in vicinity of the incident."
The incident occurred in a maritime corridor that has gained heightened strategic importance due to escalating friction surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most vital naval chokepoints. The successful emergency rescue comes at a time when commercial shipping lanes and international maritime operations near Oman and the broader Strait of Hormuz continue to encounter persistent disruptions linked to the wider conflict in the Middle East.
