The Indian Embassy in Muscat on Thursday said that efforts are underway to safely evacuate the crew of MT Jalveer to Shinas Port in Oman with the assistance of the Royal Navy of Oman.
In a post on X, the embassy said, "Evacuation of crew from MT Jalveer to Shinas port is being coordinated with assistance from Royal Navy of Oman, and shall soon be complete."
The development comes amid growing concerns over a series of maritime incidents in the waters off Oman linked to escalating tensions in West Asia.
Addressing a press briefing, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mukesh Mangal, said that all 20 Indian crew members aboard the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MT Jalveer are safe after the vessel reportedly came under attack near Shinas Port.
"Our mission in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities for the safe evacuation of the Indian crew," Mangal said.
He added that India remains deeply concerned about repeated disruptions to commercial shipping in the region and reiterated the importance of ensuring the safety of seafarers and maintaining free and uninterrupted navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also expressed concern over the recent incidents involving Indian seafarers in West Asia. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India places the highest priority on the welfare and safety of its maritime workforce.
Referring to the recent attack on the commercial vessel MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, Jaiswal noted that India had lodged a strong protest with the United States after three Indian sailors lost their lives in the incident.
"The continuing attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and are a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict there. These attacks must cease, and we call for dialogue and diplomacy to ensure an early return to peace and stability," he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Muscat also confirmed that another vessel-related incident had been reported off Shinas Port earlier on Thursday and that authorities were working to ascertain further details.
"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 local authorities for further information," the embassy said.
The latest incident marks the third maritime emergency reported off Oman in recent days.
The first occurred on June 8, when a fire broke out aboard MT Marivex, carrying 24 Indian seafarers south of the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities later confirmed that all Indian crew members were safe, while investigations into the cause of the fire continued.
The second incident involved the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, which came under attack off the Omani coast on June 10. Of the 24 Indian crew members onboard, 21 were rescued, while three sailors who were initially reported missing were later confirmed dead.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the deaths as a "profound loss" for India's maritime community and assured full support to the affected families. He said arrangements were being made for the immediate repatriation of the rescued crew members and the mortal remains of the deceased sailors.
With multiple vessel incidents reported in a matter of days, India continues to closely monitor the evolving security situation in the Gulf region while coordinating with regional authorities to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers.
