Indian-flagged dhow sinks off Oman coast; all 14 crew rescued safely

An Indian-flagged dhow sank off the Oman coast due to a mechanical failure, but all 14 crew members were safely rescued. The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed the crew are in good health and were transferred to a Mumbai-bound vessel

Dubai/New Delhi: An Indian-flagged dhow sank off the Oman coast following a mechanical failure, with all 14 crew members rescued on Sunday, officials said.

The Indian Embassy in Oman said all 14 crew members rescued are “safe and in good health”, adding that they were transferred to a vessel bound for Mumbai.

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The Mumbai-bound vessel, MV Jabal Ali, is learnt to be a cargo ship.

“Rescue operation involving Indian-flagged MSV Virat 1 has been successfully completed. All 14 crew members have been rescued and are presently onboard Jabal Ali 9, heading to Mumbai. The crew members are safe and in good health,” the mission said in a post on X.

Authoritative sources said the vessel sank due to a mechanical failure.

Earlier, in a separate post, the Indian Embassy in Muscat said: “It has emerged that the vessel experienced engine failure, and the crew eventually transferred safely to a life raft. Rescue operation is presently underway through ships in the vicinity, under coordination of Omani authorities.”

The incident comes amid reports of tensions in the region involving attacks on merchant vessels.

The Oman coast witnessed tensions last week after three vessels with Indian crew members reportedly came under attack. One of them resulted in the deaths of three seafarers.

India on Friday summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time in a week, conveying that American military strikes on commercial vessels with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman were “unacceptable” and that they undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.