Indian Navy Saves Lives from Capsized Tanker off Oman Coast

Eight Indians and a Sri Lankan national were rescued by an Indian warship during a mission to locate the crew of a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that capsized off the Oman coast, the Indian Navy reported on Wednesday night. The vessel, MT Falcon Prestige, capsized approximately 25 nautical miles southeast of Ras Madrakah in Oman on July 15. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in coordination with Omani authorities.

Rescue Efforts and Coordination

The Indian Navy's warship INS Teg played a crucial role in rescuing eight Indians and one Sri Lankan crew member. Additionally, the Indian Navy's long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8I is assisting in the search operations. The Indian embassy in Muscat is also coordinating with Omani authorities for the rescue mission.

The tanker had a total of 16 crew members, including 13 Indians and three Sri Lankans, according to Oman’s Maritime Security Centre (MSC). The MSC stated that one crew member was found dead, though the nationality of the deceased has not been confirmed. The search has successfully located 10 crew members so far, with nine found alive.

Challenging Weather Conditions

The search and rescue operations are being conducted under challenging weather conditions, with rough seas and strong winds complicating efforts. Despite these difficulties, both Indian and Omani assets continue their coordinated efforts to locate the remaining crew members.

Earlier reports from Indian government sources indicated that MT Falcon Prestige sent out a distress call around 2200 hours on July 14 off the coast of Oman. The oil tanker was en route to the Yemeni port of Aden when it capsized near Oman’s Duqm. The exact cause of the capsizing remains unknown.

Ongoing Search Operations

"Our embassy in Oman is in constant touch with the Omani authorities. A search and rescue operation for the seafarers, coordinated by the Oman Maritime Security Centre, is on," said one source. In a post on X, the Indian embassy in Muscat confirmed its coordination with Omani authorities and the Indian Navy for the ongoing search and rescue operation for MT Prestige Falcon.

"Nine crew including eight Indians have been rescued today by INS Teg. Search for the remaining survivors continues," it said.

The Indian Navy’s statement highlighted that search and rescue efforts are being carried out despite adverse weather conditions. The mission aims to ensure all crew members are accounted for as soon as possible.

The situation remains fluid as search operations continue. Both nations' authorities are working tirelessly to bring all missing crew members to safety amidst challenging circumstances.