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All 24 Indian crew members aboard an oil tanker were rescued after the vessel came under a missile strike off the coast of Oman, triggering a coordinated search and rescue operation involving Indian and Omani authorities.
The incident occurred on June 8 when the Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex, carrying an all-Indian crew, was anchored near Masirah, Oman. The vessel was reportedly struck after allegedly attempting to breach the United States’ maritime blockade on Iran.
According to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai, information about the attack was received at around 2:20 pm from a relative of a crew member on board.
The vessel was reported to have suffered significant damage following the strike, with a fire breaking out on board.
Recognising the immediate danger to the crew, MRCC Mumbai established contact with the Oman Maritime Search and Rescue Centre (OMSC) and requested urgent assistance. Omani authorities subsequently led rescue efforts and safely evacuated all 24 Indian sailors, the Indian Coast Guard confirmed.
India’s Embassy in Oman confirmed that it was in touch with local authorities and monitoring the situation to ensure the welfare of the rescued crew members.
The tanker had allegedly ignored repeated warnings from the US Navy before being disabled. According to US officials, an F/A-18 Super Hornet operating from the USS Abraham Lincoln targeted the vessel’s engineering and steering compartments, rendering it inoperable. A fire erupted on board following the strike.
In a statement posted on social media, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the vessel was no longer proceeding toward Iran.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf following the US decision in April to enforce a maritime blockade targeting vessels trading with Iran. Washington says the measures are aimed at disrupting Iran’s sanctions evasion and financial networks. Since February 2025, OFAC has sanctioned hundreds of Iran-linked individuals, vessels and aircraft as part of what the US describes as a “maximum pressure” campaign.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil and gas supplies passes, remains at the centre of the standoff. US military authorities have maintained that the restrictions apply only to vessels travelling to or from Iran and do not affect commercial shipping transiting the waterway to other destinations.
Team BharatShakti
