Daijiworld Media Network - Muscat
Muscat, Jun 14: Eleven Indian crew members aboard the Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel Virat 1 have been rescued after the vessel suffered an engine failure off the coast of Oman, while efforts were continuing to evacuate the remaining three crew members, according to the Indian Embassy in Oman.
The Embassy said that 11 of the 14 sailors on board were safely transferred to the nearby vessel MV Jabal Ali 9 as part of a coordinated rescue operation being overseen by Omani authorities.
“In a closely coordinated and ongoing rescue operation at sea, 11 of the 14 crew members of MSC Virat 1 have been rescued and taken onboard by MV Jabal Ali 9. The rescue operation of the remaining members will complete shortly,” the Embassy said in a statement posted on social media.
Earlier, officials confirmed that the vessel had experienced an engine failure, forcing the crew to abandon the ship and move into a liferaft while awaiting assistance.
According to the Embassy, rescue efforts were launched with the support of ships operating in the vicinity and under the coordination of Omani maritime authorities.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Gulf of Oman, where several vessels carrying Indian crew members have faced emergencies and attacks in recent weeks.
Just days earlier, India lodged a strong diplomatic protest with the United States over attacks on commercial vessels in the region that resulted in the deaths of Indian seafarers.
The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Jason Meeks and conveyed India's concerns regarding attacks on merchant ships operating in the Gulf of Oman.
According to the MEA, India described the use of lethal force against civilian shipping as unacceptable and warned that such incidents pose a serious threat to international maritime safety and commerce.
The protest followed multiple incidents involving vessels carrying Indian nationals. On Thursday, all 20 Indian crew members aboard MT Jalveer were rescued with assistance from Omani authorities.
Earlier, a commercial vessel named Settebello came under attack off the Omani coast. Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 were rescued while three lost their lives.
Another incident occurred on June 8 when a fire broke out aboard MT Marivex, which was carrying 24 Indian seafarers south of the Strait of Hormuz.
Authorities in Oman and Indian diplomatic officials continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts proceed to safely recover the remaining three crew members from Virat 1.