Twenty-four Indian seafarers were rescued off the coast of Oman after their vessel, MT Marivex, suffered severe damage following a strike attributed to US forces. The incident unfolded on June 8 when the crew sent urgent distress messages reporting a fire onboard and warning that the tanker was taking on water.

In an audio message circulated by Indian seafarers’ unions, a crew member identified the vessel and pleaded for immediate assistance, stating that a missile had struck the engine room and created a breach in the hull. The distress call triggered a rapid rescue effort coordinated by Indian and Omani authorities.

US Says Vessel Violated Iran Blockade

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) later acknowledged carrying out action against the tanker. According to CENTCOM, the Palau-flagged MT Marivex was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in violation of an ongoing US-led maritime blockade.

US officials said an F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln fired a precision munition targeting the vessel’s engineering and steering systems after the crew allegedly failed to comply with instructions from US forces. The military described the action as an effort to disable the ship rather than sink it.

Indian Authorities Coordinate Rescue

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai was alerted about the emergency and immediately contacted the Oman Maritime Search and Rescue Centre. Omani authorities launched helicopters and coordinated a rescue operation near Masirah Island.

By the evening of June 8, all 24 Indian crew members had been safely evacuated. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Embassy in Muscat confirmed that no fatalities or injuries were reported among the sailors.

Questions Raised Over Maritime Safety

The incident has drawn strong reactions from Indian seafarers’ unions, which criticised the use of force against a vessel carrying civilian crew members. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India described the strike as a matter of serious concern and called for greater protection of merchant sailors operating in conflict-prone waters.

The MT Marivex had previously been sanctioned by US authorities over alleged links to Iranian fuel shipments. CENTCOM stated that the vessel was not carrying cargo at the time of the strike. The episode highlights growing risks to commercial shipping amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region and ongoing efforts to enforce restrictions on maritime traffic linked to Iran.

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