Oman vessel attack: 13 Indians rescued, search continues for missing seafarer

New Delhi: Search and rescue operations are continuing for an Indian seafarer who remains missing after a commercial vessel carrying 14 Indian nationals was attacked off the coast of Oman on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs said Tuesday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 13 of the 14 Indian seafarers aboard the Panama-flagged vessel had been rescued with the assistance of Omani authorities.

“Regarding the missing seafarer, this attack happened off the coast of Oman. It was a Panama flagship on which we had 14 Indian nationals or seafarers, of whom 13 have been rescued, and we deeply thank the Omani authorities for rescuing our nationals. One Indian national is missing; the seafarer was on board. Search and rescue operations continue with the help of the Omani authorities,” Jaiswal said during a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi.

He said the Indian Embassy in Oman was closely monitoring developments and coordinating with Omani authorities involved in the search operation.

Jaiswal also condemned attacks targeting commercial vessels and civilians in the region and called for the restoration of safe navigation.

“Having said that, let me say that targeting of commercial shipping, targeting of seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable to us. We also urge that free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through international and national waterways in the region be restored at the earliest,” the MEA spokesperson said.

The External Affairs Ministry had condemned the attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the Omani coast on Sunday.

In its earlier statement, the ministry said, “We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and pursuance of dialogue and diplomacy to bring peace to the region. The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable. We also urge that free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through the international waterways in the region be restored at the earliest.”

IRGC says tanker caught fire after hitting naval mines

Meanwhile, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said a super oil tanker attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through what it described as a “forbidden” route south of the waterway exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines.

In a statement carried by the IRGC's official news outlet, Sepah News, the navy said attempts to contain the fire on the tanker, identified as El Gaia, were unsuccessful and the vessel was eventually engulfed in flames.

The IRGC said warnings had previously been issued about the risks of using the “illegal” route and maintained that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and under the control of Iranian naval forces.