An oil tanker named Marivex reported a fire off the coast of Oman while carrying 24 Indian seafarers, triggering a coordinated response from Indian and Omani authorities. The vessel was Madagascar-flagged and was not carrying cargo, while officials said all crew members were safe.
The Indian Embassy in Oman said it was in touch with local authorities after the incident was reported, while the Shipping Ministry said it was working with Indian missions abroad, the Indian Navy, and the Ministry of Defence to support the crew’s safety.
What is known about the incident
Tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform showed the tanker was sailing from Karwar in India to Duqm in Oman. The fire broke out at 1.30 pm local time, but the cause was not immediately known.
The embassy wrote on X that it was “seized of an incident involving a ship with Indian sailors onboard” and was coordinating with Omani authorities for the crew’s rescue and safety. That public statement confirmed the diplomatic focus on the welfare of the sailors.
Crew safety remains the main concern
Shipping Ministry Director Opesh Kumar Sharma said all Indian seafarers were “presently safe” and that the ministry was coordinating across several agencies. The ministry said the effort involved the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions overseas, the Indian Navy, and the Ministry of Defence.
The vessel’s empty status also limited one major risk factor, since the tanker was not carrying cargo at the time of the fire. Even so, any fire at sea on a tanker raises immediate concern because of the potential for rapid escalation and the need for fast containment.
India’s wider response for seafarers
Sharma also said the Shipping Ministry, through the Directorate General of Shipping, has helped facilitate the safe repatriation of 3,506 Indian seafarers so far. He added that 32 seafarers were repatriated in the last 96 hours, showing the scale of the ministry’s ongoing support for Indian crew members overseas.
For families and maritime authorities, the immediate focus remains on the safety of the 24 Indians onboard Marivex and the circumstances surrounding the fire. The ship’s route, the absence of cargo, and the lack of an immediate cause have all kept attention on the rescue and coordination effort underway off Oman’s coast.
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