Indian Crew Vessel Targeted Near Oman as Gulf Tensions Escalate; Third Maritime Incident in Days

The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed that it had received information about an incident involving a vessel off the coast of Shinas Port earlier in the day. In a statement, the embassy said it was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities to gather further details. The mission later announced that evacuation efforts for the crew were being coordinated with the assistance of the Royal Navy of Oman and were expected to be completed shortly.

The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) shared visuals of MT Jalveer, the vessel reportedly involved in the incident. According to available information, the ship was carrying 20 Indian crew members. However, it remains unclear how many personnel were onboard at the time of the attack.

Reports indicated that all crew members of the merchant vessel were safe. Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that five of the 20 crew members were rescued by passing vessels and subsequently taken to Oman for assistance and medical support.

There has been no official confirmation that MT Jalveer is an Indian vessel, although Indian nationals are believed to be among its crew members.

The latest incident is the third reported attack involving vessels carrying Indian crew this week. Earlier, two oil tankers operating off the Omani coast came under attack by United States forces.

In the most recent of those incidents, the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello was struck by a missile while operating off Sohar in the Gulf of Oman. The attack resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers, while 21 others were rescued after a fire broke out onboard the vessel.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the deaths of the three Indian nationals and described the tragedy as a profound loss for India’s maritime community.

The United States stated that its military carried out a precision strike on the tanker after the vessel allegedly failed to comply with instructions and was transporting oil from Iran. The US military also released video footage showing the moment the tanker was struck.

The Settebello incident occurred just one day after another attack involving the oil tanker MT Marivex in the Gulf of Oman. The Palau-flagged vessel, carrying 24 Indian crew members, was operating near the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz when it was hit by a projectile.

The series of attacks has heightened concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors. With multiple vessels carrying Indian crew members targeted within a matter of days, authorities continue to monitor the evolving situation closely as regional tensions show no signs of easing.