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Indian crew evacuated after tanker fire
All 24 Indian seafarers aboard the MT Marivex tanker were safely rescued on Monday after their vessel caught fire in the Gulf of Oman following an encounter with US naval forces, Indian officials confirmed.
Incident details
The fire erupted around 1:30 p.m. local time while the unladen, Palau-flagged tanker was sailing in the region. The crew sent distress signals reporting the vessel was ablaze and taking on water, according to Opesh Kumar Sharma of India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Sharma stated that preliminary reports confirmed all seafarers were unharmed, though authorities did not disclose the cause of the fire. Omani helicopters evacuated the crew to Masirah Island.
US military action
US Central Command later revealed that American forces had disabled the tanker after it allegedly breached a blockade on Iran by attempting to reach an Iranian port. An F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Abraham Lincoln struck the ship's engineering and steering compartments with precision munitions after the crew ignored warnings.
"Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran," the command stated.
The vessel, reportedly empty at the time, was located south of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments.
Broader tensions
This incident is the latest in a series of disruptions to commercial shipping in the Gulf, where heightened military activity and regional conflicts-particularly involving Iran, the US, and Israel-have escalated risks. The MT Marivex had previously been sanctioned by US authorities over alleged ties to Iran, Reuters reported.
Seafarers' unions respond
The All India Seafarers Union, which represents Indian merchant sailors, confirmed receiving distress calls from the crew shortly after the fire began. The union maintained contact with authorities throughout the rescue operation.
The Forward Seamen's Union of India called the event a "matter of serious concern," urging immediate action to safeguard seafarers and support their families. Both unions later verified the crew's safe evacuation.
Geopolitical context
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supplies typically transit, has become a flashpoint amid ongoing tensions. The incident underscores the growing dangers faced by commercial vessels in the region.
