India says its sailors rescued off tanker ablaze off Oman

Omani authorities airlifted 24 Indian sailors off the MT Marivex, a tanker on fire off the coast of Oman, on Monday. India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed all crew were safe after the blaze was reported at around 1:30 pm local time (0800 GMT). New Delhi did not say what caused the fire.

What happened to the MT Marivex tanker off Oman?

A fire broke out aboard the MT Marivex, a Palau-flagged oil products tanker, while it was positioned off the Omani coast south of the capital Muscat. Omani rescue teams airlifted all 24 Indian crew members to safety by helicopter. The cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed by Indian authorities.

How were the 24 Indian seafarers rescued from the burning tanker?

Images posted by the Forward Seamen's Union of India showed crew members being winched from the vessel by helicopter as thick black smoke billowed from the bridge and accommodation cabins. Ship-tracking service MarineTraffic confirmed the tanker's position off the Omani coast. Indian authorities did not provide details on the extent of damage to the vessel.

The Indian embassy in Oman thanked Omani authorities for their response. "We are thankful to the Omani authorities for their swift response and rescue of all the 24 crew members of Indian nationality, onboard MT Marivex, and ensuring their safety," the embassy said in a social media statement.

How does the Strait of Hormuz conflict affect shipping near Oman?

Iran has largely blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28. The waterway normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil and LNG shipments in peacetime. India's foreign ministry, in a separate statement on Monday, said the conflict had lasted over 100 days and caused "immense human suffering" as well as a "debilitating impact on the global economy and energy supplies."