Smoke detected from MT Jalveer off Omani coast; all Indian sailors safe: Sources
New Delhi, June 11
Smoke was detected coming out of the vessel MT Jalveer off the coast of Oman due to a fire in the engine room said official sources on Thursday. All 20 Indian sailors on board are safe.
"Smoke was coming out of MT Jalveer. The tanker has experienced a fire in the engine room. There were 20 Indian sailors on board the vessel off the Oman coast, and all are safe," an official source said.
As per the vessel tracking website, Marinetraffic Jalveer is an Asphalt/Bitumen Tanker and is sailing under the flag of Guniea Bissau. Her length overall (LOA) is 119.95 meters, and her width is 16.84 meters.
Earlier today, the British maritime surveillance agency UKMTO reported on Thursday that it received a report of a tanker experiencing fire near Oman's port city of Sohar. It however, did not name the vessel.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in a post on X said that authorities continue to investigate and advised vessels to transit with caution.
"UKMTO has received a report of an incident 21NM northeast of Sohar, Oman. Local authorities have reported a tanker has experienced a fire in the engine room. No environmental impact has been reported."
In a separate incident, the Indian Embassy in Oman said that it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities after an incident was reported involving a vessel off Shinaz port of Oman.
The Embassy said on X, "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 the local authorities for further details."
The reports of fresh attacks in Omani waters come after the attack on the Palau-flagged vessel MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz, where 24 Indian crew members were onboard of whom three were killed.
As the situation continues to evolve in West Asia and the Gulf region, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of navigational rights in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Highlighting how the restrictions on navigational rights are causing hardship & instability across the world, he said that the world needs a complete ceasefire in line with international law.
"Even in the best-case scenario, these shocks will be felt for many months - with developing countries bearing the heaviest impacts," he added.
India on Wednesday voiced deep concern over the attacks on merchant shipping vessels in the Gulf region amid the ongoing conflict and urged for dialogue and diplomacy-- underlining New Delhi's importance as a proximate neighbour with critical stakes in security and stability of the region.
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, P Harish, firmly condemned the attacks on merchant shipping vessels and said, "India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping as many of our nationals are prominent in its global workforce. Many Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing as a result of attacks against countries of the region and against merchant vessels and sea lanes of communication."
"The intensification of the conflict and its spread to other nations have evoked great anxiety. The mounting destruction and deaths and cessation of normal life and economic activities have deeply impacted India, a proximate neighbour with critical stakes in the security and stability of the region," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to hear the crew is safe, but why is a tanker with an Indian crew still sailing under a flag of convenience like Guinea Bissau? This flags of convenience system puts lives at risk. The Indian government should push for stronger safety regulations for ships employing our sailors.
The UKMTO is doing its job but our own embassy needs to be more proactive. The Indian Ambassador in Oman should have issued a statement earlier. Every Indian life matters, especially those who work in dangerous maritime zones. Good that they're monitoring now but we need faster responses.
Fire in the engine room is one thing but these attacks on merchant ships are a whole different ball game. UN Chief Guterres is right about the impact on developing countries. India should take a diplomatic lead here, we can't just watch from the sidelines.
Respectfully, I think India's statement at the UN was too mild. "Deep concern" and "dialogue and diplomacy" sounds nice but what's the concrete action? Our sailors are being killed and injured. We need to demand safe passage for Indian vessels or evacuate our nationals from risky routes.
As an Indian, I'm relieved but also worried. Our sailors are the backbone of global trade and they're being caught in crossfires. The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for our energy imports. The government should consider diversifying sea routes and investing in alternative energy to reduce dependence on this volatile region.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.