India’s shipping ministry said on Monday that a fire was reported on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, with 24 Indian sailors on board, and that all of them were safe, according to Reuters.
The development followed earlier information accessed by CNN-News18 that a commercial cargo vessel carrying at least 24 Indian crew members had come under a suspected drone or missile attack near the Strait of Hormuz.
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🚨 BREAKING
— Public News X (@PublicNewsX) June 8, 2026
Fire/explosion on Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex off Oman near Strait of Hormuz.
FSUI reports suspected drone/missile attack; evacuation of 24 Indian seafarers in progress.
All crew safe per Indian authorities.
Attacker unidentified; investigations ongoing… pic.twitter.com/3avons56n2
Trouble brews beyond the horizon
The vessel was sailing about 15 nautical miles off the Omani coast when an explosion struck the ship.
The blast tore into the engine room, triggering a major fire. The incident led to flooding and a loss of stability, after which crew members issued distress calls seeking immediate assistance.
🇴🇲🇮🇳 Another tanker just caught fire off Oman
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 8, 2026
The MT Marivex went up today, about 15 nautical miles off Masirah and way south of the Strait of Hormuz.
All 24 on board, all Indian, got off fine. Ship was empty anyway, no cargo on it.
India's shipping people say everyone's safe,… pic.twitter.com/k0SWwSttEg
A narrow escape
The ship was Palau-flagged. The lifeboats were reportedly damaged, complicating evacuation efforts. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India confirmed that Indian nationals were on board and said some crew members had been affected in the incident.
The shipping ministry’s statement later said the 24 Indian sailors were safe.
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Uneasy waters, watchful eyes
The incident came as maritime traffic in and around the Strait of Hormuz has remained under close watch amid regional tensions.
The latest episode followed another maritime accident in Omani waters in May, when an Indian dhow traveling from Somalia to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates caught fire and later sank in the early hours of May 13.
In that incident, all 14 crew members aboard the dhow were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard and were later reported safe.
FAQs
1: Were the 24 Indian sailors on the tanker off Oman safe?
Ans: Yes, India’s shipping ministry said all 24 Indian sailors aboard the vessel were safe.
2: Was the vessel near the Strait of Hormuz attacked?
Ans: Early reports suggested a suspected attack, but India later confirmed a fire on the tanker and did not attribute a cause.
