24 Indian sailors rescued from Palau-flagged tanker that caught fire after US strike off Oman

Twenty-four Indian seafarers were rescued in a high-stakes international operation after a US military missile strike disabled and set fire to the oil tanker MT Marivex off the coast of Oman on Monday.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Embassy in Muscat confirmed on Tuesday morning that all crew members were safely evacuated using Omani military helicopters and transferred to Masirah Island. No casualties or injuries have been reported, even as an audio distress message from the vessel indicated it was taking on water and sinking after a direct hit to its engine room.

US strike on alleged blockade violator

The incident took place in international waters in the Gulf of Oman. According to US Central Command (Centcom), an F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln fired a precision munition into the tanker’s engineering and steering compartments.

The Pentagon said the strike was carried out because the unladen vessel had repeatedly violated an active US naval blockade linked to Iran. US officials alleged the tanker made multiple attempts to evade detection in recent days, including entering Omani waters and switching off its automatic tracking system before being intercepted.

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Shadow fleet concerns

The strike has also drawn attention to the global system of “flags of convenience,” under which vessels are registered in third countries with limited regulatory oversight. Although the MT Marivex was crewed entirely by Indian nationals, it was registered under Palau, a small Pacific island state with minimal direct control over the vessel’s operations.

The ship has been linked to US sanctions concerns, with authorities classifying it as part of a wider network of vessels operating in regulatory grey zones. Such arrangements often allow real owners to obscure identities, avoid stricter labour and environmental rules, and continue shipping activity despite international restrictions.

Rescue operation and repatriation

The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) said it received a distress call on Monday afternoon from a crew member reporting a major engine room fire that made parts of the vessel inaccessible, including lifeboats on one side.

“The Mumbai Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre promptly established communication with Oman,” the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement. “Oman initiated the rescue operation by deploying two rescue helicopters to the incident area.”

While New Delhi has not publicly commented on the US strike, diplomatic and maritime agencies have prioritised the safe return of the sailors. Officials said the 24 seafarers are expected to return to India within the next 48 hours.