22 Indian sailors rescued after tanker incident off Ras Al Khaimah

All 22 Indian crew members aboard crude oil tanker MT Gem No. 2 were rescued off the UAE coast, the Indian consulate said. Meanwhile, UKMTO reported tanker incidents near the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz as maritime tensions continued

Dubai: A total of 22 Indian crew members were rescued from crude oil tanker MT Gem No. 2, off the Ras Al Khaimah coast, after an accident, the Consulate General of India in Dubai said on Sunday.

“The Consulate has learnt of an incident involving vessel MT GEM No. 2 off Ras Al Khaimah coast, that had 22 Indian crew members on board. All crew members have been rescued and are safe. The Consulate is in touch with UAE authorities and is extending all possible assistance and support to the Indian seafarers,” the Consulate General said on X.

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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) released two reports on Sunday involving a tanker.

It had received a report of an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman.

It has also received a report of an incident within the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Master of an outbound tanker reports being struck on the port side by an unknown projectile, causing a fire on board. Crew are reported safe. Damage assessment and environmental impact are unknown at time of report,” the UKMTO reported.

The navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that a “violating” supertanker attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz via an “unauthorised” route suffered a massive explosion after hitting naval mines.

In a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet, Sepah News, the navy said on Saturday that the vessel, carrying crude oil with its navigation and GPS systems switched off, caught fire after the blast.

It said the route had been designated high-risk, warning that such a fate awaits any violating oil tanker seeking to “disregard” Iran’s regulations, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier on Friday, the IRGC navy said its forces had hit a “giant” liquefied petroleum gas carrier identified as NV Sunshine as it sought to cross the strait through an “illegal” route south of the waterway.

The vessel’s engine room and propulsion system caught fire, it said.