Govt confirms fire incident on vessel south of Hormuz, all crew members safe
New Delhi, June 8
The government on Monday confirmed a fire incident aboard MT Marivex, a vessel carrying 24 Indian seafarers south of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that all crew members are safe.
During an inter-ministerial briefing, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) said fire was reported at around 1:30 pm on Monday.
"This is the preliminary information which we have received. Based on this, as per available information, all Indian seafarers are presently safe," according to a Ministry spokesperson.
"So, whether the ship was hit by a projectile or not, presently we are trying to get absolute information. As you are aware, the fire incident was at 1:30 today," informed Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director in the Shipping Division.
"We are in touch with the owners, and we are trying to ascertain the facts. We are also in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and our mission in Oman," he added.
The Shipping Ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, and the Indian Navy and Ministry of Defence to ensure the safety of the seafarers. The vessel was well out of the Strait of Hormuz and well cleared to the south. It was not carrying any cargo and was in ballast condition.
The Embassy of India, Muscat, said in a post on X that "The Mission is seized of an incident involving a ship with Indian sailors onboard. We are in touch with the Omani authorities for their rescue and safety".
Last month, an Indian seafarer lost his life while four others sustained burn injuries after a wooden dhow carrying 18 Indian crew members capsized near the Strait of Hormuz following a fire onboard.
The incident took place in the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz region, where tensions linked to the ongoing Iran-US conflict continue to escalate, and reports of drone activity in the area have heightened security concerns. According to sources, the wooden dhow was transporting general cargo when the fire broke out.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Our sailors risk their lives every day just to keep global trade moving. The government needs to be more transparent about what caused this fire—was it an accident or a projectile? The crew's safety is paramount, and I hope the investigation reveals the truth quickly.
This is deeply concerning. Our seafarers are the backbone of maritime trade, and incidents like this show how vulnerable they are. The fact that the ship was in ballast condition (empty) is a small mercy, but the bigger question is about safety protocols. Good that MEA and Navy are coordinating, but prevention is better than cure.
Feels like every week there's some incident near Hormuz. The geopolitical situation is a powder keg, and our sailors are caught in the middle. At least this time the crew is safe. Let's hope the government uses this as a wake-up call to improve maritime security for Indian vessels in high-risk zones.
So scary for the families! 😰 These seafarers don't get enough recognition for their bravery. I hope the government provides proper compensation and psychological support for the crew after this traumatic event. Also, why is our intelligence not giving early warnings about such threats?
Good coordination between ministries shown here. But I hope this isn't a case of too little, too late. The previous dhow incident cost a life. Our shipping companies should consider rerouting vessels away from Hormuz if possible, even if it costs more. Nothing is more valuable than human life.
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