Indian Embassy in Oman says it is tracking vessel incident off coast

The Indian Embassy in Oman said on Thursday it was closely monitoring an incident involving a vessel, MT Jalveer, off Shinas port on the Omani coast and was coordinating with local authorities to gather details, as tensions in the Gulf remained high following a US strike on a tanker that killed three Indian seafarers.

"We have learnt of an incident involving a vessel off Shinas port of Oman, earlier today. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the local authorities for further details," the embassy said in a post on X.

The development comes a day after a tanker MT Settebello was attacked off the coast of Oman, leaving three Indian crew members missing. India had earlier said 21 of the vessel's 24 Indian crew members had been rescued while search efforts continued for the remaining three.



Also Read: Three missing Indian seafarers dead after US strike on tanker in Gulf of Oman

Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday, as per Reuters, that all three missing Indian seafarers had died following the incident.

The United States has said its military carried out a "precision" strike on the Palau-flagged tanker after it allegedly failed to comply with instructions from American forces and was transporting Iranian oil in violation of an ongoing US blockade targeting Iran-related shipping.

According to Indian sources cited by Reuters, New Delhi summoned the US deputy chief of mission and lodged a "strong protest" over the strike.

The Settebello, which had 24 Indian crew members on board, was operating off the Omani coast when it was struck. Twenty-one crew members were rescued, while the three others were initially reported missing.

Maritime security firms had assessed that the vessel was likely hit during US operations aimed at enforcing restrictions on Iran-linked shipping. The tanker subsequently reported an engine-room fire and issued a distress call, prompting a response from Omani authorities.

India condemned the attack on the commercial vessel, describing continued incidents involving shipping in the region as deeply worrying. The Ministry of External Affairs also called for de-escalation and a diplomatic resolution to the wider conflict affecting maritime traffic in the Gulf.


The latest vessel incident near Shinas comes amid heightened concerns over maritime security in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. Since April, the United States has intensified enforcement measures against vessels suspected of transporting Iranian oil, leading to a series of confrontations at sea.

Indian authorities have not indicated whether Thursday's vessel incident is linked to the broader US-Iran maritime standoff. The Indian Embassy in Muscat said it was continuing to coordinate with Omani authorities and gather information on the situation.