Several hundred Indian sailors continue to remain caught in a prolonged maritime crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, with 562 crew members stranded aboard 13 Indian-flagged vessels for the past 107 days. The sailors have been living in uncertainty since tensions between the United States and Iran escalated earlier this year, disrupting shipping operations in one of the world's busiest sea routes.
The issue has once again come into focus after the death of an Indian seafarer aboard a vessel anchored in Oman and a separate emergency involving another Indian ship carrying 14 crew members.
Embassy works to bring home a deceased sailor
According to NDTV, the Indian Embassy in Muscat confirmed that Nishant Urthanathan, an Indian national serving aboard MT Celestial, died due to medical reasons while the vessel was stationed at the Port of Duqm in Oman.
In a statement, the embassy said it remains in constant touch with Urthanathan's family, the vessel's crew and local authorities. Efforts are underway to disembark his mortal remains and arrange for their repatriation to India at the earliest.
The embassy also said it is coordinating closely with the vessel's management company and all concerned stakeholders to ensure the process is completed smoothly.
The death has highlighted the difficult circumstances faced by crew members who have remained stranded at sea for months with limited certainty about their future.
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Hundreds continue to wait at sea
According to data from the Ministry of Shipping, 329 Indian sailors are stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, while another 233 remain in the Gulf of Oman.
The sailors have been unable to resume normal operations since the outbreak of hostilities between the US and Iran on February 28. Many have spent more than three months aboard their vessels, dealing with prolonged isolation and growing anxiety over security conditions in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically important shipping corridors in the world, handling a significant share of global oil and cargo traffic.
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Fresh emergency involving an Indian vessel
According to NDTV, the Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed an incident involving the Indian-flagged sailing vessel Virat 1 off the Omani coast.
The vessel reportedly suffered an engine failure while carrying 14 Indian crew members. According to initial reports, the crew safely evacuated to life rafts after the breakdown.
A search and rescue operation is currently underway with the assistance of Omani authorities and nearby vessels operating in the area. The embassy said it is closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant agencies.
