As many as 14 Indian sailors were awaiting rescue on Sunday after an India-flagged vessel suffered an engine failure off the coast of Oman, prompting a coordinated search and rescue operation.
The incident involves the mechanised sailing vessel Virat 1, which was carrying 14 crew members when it encountered technical difficulties at sea.
The incident comes as a series of US strikes on shipping vessels sparked alarm in Delhi after three Indian sailors were killed in an attack. The deaths were the first reported since a US blockade on Iran-linked shipping began on 13 April in which US forces disabled eight ships and turned back more than 100 others.
On Sunday, the Indian mission in Oman said “an incident involving an Indian flagged mechanised sailing vessel Virat 1” has been reported off the coast of Oman.
“It has emerged that the vessel experienced an engine failure, and the crew eventually transferred safely to a liferaft.
“Rescue operation is presently underway through ships in vicinity, under coordination of Omani authorities,” it added.
It is not known how the vessel experienced an engine failure.
The US Navy alerted authorities on Sunday about the Virat 1, which was reported to be sinking around 80 nautical miles off Ras Al Hadd, Oman, according to sources cited by Indian media.
Indian Navy vessels have been diverted to the location to assist in the rescue effort.
A US Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft reportedly dropped a liferaft and monitored the evacuation of the crew. Sources said all 14 Indian sailors successfully boarded the life raft and were accounted for.
India has a workforce of more than 300,000 seafarers serving on merchant vessels worldwide, according to official government figures. Of these, over 18,000 are employed across the Middle East, a senior official from the country’s shipping ministry said last week.
It comes as India raised concerns and even diplomatic protests over the attacks on ships with Indian seafarers. Last week, three Indian crew members were found dead after the M/T Settebello, carrying Iranian oil, was attacked by a US aircraft with precision munitions into its engine room, causing a fire.
India issued a “strong protest” on Friday and the US Charge d’affaires was “summoned” by the Foreign Ministry for a second time in the past week in response to the deaths and attacks.
“These attacks must cease and end,” said Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal.
“The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region.”
Indian foreign minister, S Jaishankar, said he spoke to US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and directly conveyed a protest against the attacks.
“I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” Mr Jaishankar wrote on X.
However, shortly after, Washington appeared to sidestep India’s concerns as a readout of the call did not mention the deaths of Indian sailors; rather, it doubled down on America’s warning of violating the blockade.
“The two officials discussed recent events in the Strait of Hormuz. The secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait,” spokesperson for US State Department, Tommy Pigott, said in a statement.
“He underscored that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated.”
The issue is likely to feature top on the agenda in Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s expected meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of G7 summit in France.
It comes as another Indian crew member died from a medical complication and his body remained onboard for more than two days without proper refrigeration amid ongoing strikes on vessels.
Nishanth Uirthanathan, 35, died on MT Celestial on 11 June while it was docked at Duqm Port in Oman, the Indian embassy in Muscat said late Saturday.
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India said his body remained on the vessel without refrigeration and crew members were forced to use cold water bottles.
“Crew is using cold water bottles in a desperate attempt to slow decomposition – a horrifying and health-risking situation,” the union said, sharing a video it said was from the tanker.
Indian embassy in Muscat said, “Necessary arrangements are being made for the early repatriation of the mortal remains to India.”
