Oman Air Force became a trouble-shooter: 24 Indians saved when Palau flagged tanker caught fire after the attack

New Delhi, June 8. Oman Air Force emerged as a rescuer when it rescued 24 Indians after a fire in a Palau flagged tanker.

In fact, on Monday, a Palau flagged tanker was attacked near the Oman coast, after which the tanker caught fire. There were 24 Indian personnel on board the tanker, who were later evacuated safely by the Oman Air Force. MT Marivaux personnel reported the fire at 1.30 pm.

UPDATE ON MT MARIVEX INCIDENT
Repatriation by the Navy is currently underway. As per information received directly from crew members, the majority of the crew have been reported safe.
Our union remains in continuous contact with the crew and relevant authorities and is closely… pic.twitter.com/Nvc0o274LG

— All India Seafarers Union (@AllSeafarers) June 8, 2026

Opesh Kumar Sharma, director in the shipping ministry, said the ship was far south of the Strait of Hormuz. He said that all the personnel are safe. A few hours later, all the personnel were evacuated by Oman Air Force helicopter. This was shown in the video released on social media platforms.

In an audio recording of an SOS message sent by Marivex personnel, one member said the ship’s engine room caught fire after a US Navy missile attack. Director Sharma said that Indian officials are investigating whether the ship was attacked by any projectile. The Ministry of Shipping coordinated this matter with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Mission in Oman, the Ministry of Defense and the Indian Navy to ensure the safety of the personnel.

The ship was going from Karnataka to Duqm in Oman

According to media reports, Marivex was going from Karwar in Karnataka to Duqm in Oman. Forward Seamen Union of India (FSUI), one of India’s oldest organizations, wrote on social media that the attack on a ship carrying 24 Indian sailors is a matter of grave concern. The union further said, ‘FSUI demands prompt and coordinated action to ensure the safety of the entire crew, support to their families and the safety of seafarers at sea.’

It is noteworthy that Oman is located near the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed by Iran since the conflict with Israel and America started in February. The attack on Marivaux comes against the backdrop of new hostilities between Israel and Iran that began on Sunday. So far, 10 Indians have died in West Asia since the conflict began, including three sailors killed in attacks on merchant ships in the initial days.