14 Indians evacuated after vessel suffers engine failure off Oman coast

All 14 Indian crew members on the merchant vessel Virat 1 were evacuated after an engine failure off the Oman coast. Officials said the emergency was a technical breakdown, not linked to recent attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman.

In Short

• Crew shifted to a liferaft after the vessel suffered mechanical trouble
• Omani authorities coordinated rescue efforts with ships operating in the vicinity
• A maritime patrol aircraft reportedly helped deploy the liferaft during evacuation

All 14 Indian crew members aboard an Indian-flagged merchant vessel were safely evacuated after the ship suffered an engine failure off the coast of Oman, the Embassy of India in Muscat said on Sunday.

The vessel, identified as Virat 1, reportedly experienced a mechanical breakdown while operating in waters near Oman. According to the Indian mission, the crew was forced to abandon the vessel after the engine failure and subsequently transferred to a liferaft as rescue efforts were launched.

In a statement posted on social media, the embassy said that search and rescue operations were being coordinated with Omani authorities and nearby vessels. "It has emerged that the vessel experienced an engine failure, and the crew eventually transferred safely to a liferaft. A rescue operation is presently underway through ships in the vicinity, under the coordination of Omani authorities," the embassy said.

Earlier reports indicated that the vessel was carrying 14 Indian crew members. Maritime authorities were alerted after the ship encountered difficulties, prompting an emergency response. According to reports, the crew abandoned the vessel and boarded a liferaft that was reportedly deployed with assistance from a maritime patrol aircraft.

The Indian Embassy said it was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities to ensure the safety of all crew members.

VIRAT 1 INCIDENT IS UNRELATED TO RECENT ATTACKS

The incident comes at a sensitive time amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region and growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping. However, officials clarified that the Virat 1 incident was unrelated to the recent attacks on foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew members in the Gulf of Oman.

Last week, three vessels with Indian sailors on board came under attack in the region. One of those incidents resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers, prompting strong protests from New Delhi.

India subsequently summoned US Charg d'affaires Jason Meeks and described the attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members as "unacceptable". The government said such actions undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.

While investigations continue into the recent attacks, authorities have stressed that the Virat 1 emergency was caused by a technical failure and not by any hostile action. Rescue operations for the crew were continuing at the time of the latest update.

- Ends
With PTI inputs