ALBAWABA- A 24-member Indian crew was safely evacuated after a commercial oil and chemical tanker caught fire following a suspected attack while sailing in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman on Monday.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident occurred approximately 15 nautical miles (28 km) northeast of Oman’s Masirah Island, triggering an emergency response and international rescue coordination.
The vessel has been identified as the MT Marivex, a tanker carrying oil and chemical products and registered under the flag of Palau, though maritime tracking data suggests it had recently operated under a different flag.
The ship is owned by Arihant Shipping and was previously sanctioned by the United States Treasury in December 2025 over allegations of involvement in Iran-linked oil transport activities.
All 24 crew members, all Indian nationals, were evacuated without injury after issuing a distress call. Omani Coast Guard units and international maritime partners participated in the rescue operation. Indian shipping officials confirmed that all seafarers are safe and receiving consular assistance.
Preliminary reports indicate that a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room before rapidly spreading to other sections of the ship. However, the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation, with no official determination yet confirmed.
Some regional maritime sources and media reports have suggested the possibility of a drone or missile strike, although these claims have not been independently verified. The vessel had recently called at Iran’s Bandar Shahid Rajaee port in April, raising speculation that it may have been caught up in escalating maritime tensions linked to the wider regional conflict environment.
Tracking data shows the Marivex was sailing empty and en route to New Mangalore Port in India for maintenance at the time of the incident.
The fire comes amid heightened insecurity in the waters near Oman, where commercial shipping has increasingly faced risks linked to regional military tensions and covert maritime confrontations.
The incident follows a similar explosion involving another tanker near Muscat in late May, underscoring growing concerns over the safety of merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea.
