• Source:JND

India on Wednesday condemned the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman and said that 21 of the 24 Indian crew members on board had been rescued. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that three Indian nationals are still missing, while the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely coordinating with local authorities.

India Condemns Attack

In an official statement, the MEA stressed that the continuing attacks on shipping in the region are deeply concerning and are a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict. India reiterated its call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and urged all parties to support ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability. 

"We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 24 Indian crew onboard, 21 Indians have been rescued thus far and 03 Indians are reportedly missing. Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation," the MEA noted.

The condemnation comes after a suspected US missile strike reportedly hit the tanker off the Omani coast. Reports suggested that the vessel may have been targetted during US operations aimed at blocking Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz. Accoridng to Reuters report, the tanker had 28 crew members on board, including 24 Indian sailors. US Central Command (US CENTCOM) has not yet commented on the incident. 

Indian Embassy Reacts

Earlier, the Embassy of India in Oman said it has learned about an incident involving a vessel off the coast of Oman and is "closely monitoring" the situation. In a post on X, the embassy added that it is in contact with local authorities and will provide further updates as more information becomes available. "We have learnt of an incident involving a vessel off the coast of Oman. We are closely monitoring the situation and in close touch with the local authorities. We shall update soon," the embassy stated.

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Ship Reported Engine Fire

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the ship was a Palau-flagged chemical and oil products tanker. It had reported an engine room fire about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Sohar port. The vessel, identified as Settebello by maritime tracking sources, also sent a distress call that was responded to by the Omani Navy.

Earlier on June 8, all 24 Indian crew members aboard the oil tanker MT Marivex were safely rescued by Omani authorities after a fire incident on a Madagascar-flagged vessel. The Indian Embassy in Muscat had expressed gratitude to the Omani authorities for their prompt action in ensuring the safety of the Indian nationals.

"We are thankful to the Omani authorities for their swift response and rescue of all the 24 crew members of Indian nationality onboard MT Marivex, and ensuring their safety," the Embassy wrote on X.

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