NEW DELHI: India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Monday that a fire was reported aboard the oil tanker Marivex off the coast of Oman.
The vessel had 24 Indian sailors on board, all of whom were confirmed safe. According to Opesh Kumar Sharma, a director in the ministry, the Madagascar-flagged tanker was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident.
“All Indian seafarers are presently safe. We are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, our Indian missions abroad, the Indian Navy, and the Ministry of Defence to ensure their safety,” Sharma said.
#WATCH | Delhi | Director in the Shipping Division of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Opesh Kumar Sharma says, “There has been a recent report that today, around 1:30 pm, there has been a fire reported on a vessel, MT Marivex, in which there were 24 Indian… pic.twitter.com/kBoaWRU47g
— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2026
He said the cause of the fire, which broke out on the vessel at 1.30 pm local time (0800 GMT), was not immediately known.
“We are trying to ascertain the facts. Whether the ship was hit by a projectile or not, we are still seeking complete information,” Sharma said.
He added that the tanker was “well out of the Strait of Hormuz and well clear to the south” when the incident occurred.
Indian officials are in touch with Omani authorities for the rescue and safety of the sailors, the Indian embassy said in a post on X.
The Mission is seized of an incident involving a ship with Indian sailors onboard.
We are in touch with the Omani authorities for their rescue and safety.
— India in Oman (Embassy of India, Muscat) (@Indemb_Muscat) June 8, 2026
Earlier, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) issued an urgent appeal on social media, reporting that the Indian crew aboard the vessel had requested assistance while off the coast of Oman.
The incident comes amid heightened maritime security concerns in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz area.
The strategic waterway serves as a key route for global oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making any disruption there a matter of significant international concern.
Several tanker-related incidents, attacks, and explosions have been reported in the region in recent months, making any fire or emergency involving commercial shipping particularly significant.
