A coordinated search-and-rescue operation is underway after the Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel Virat 1 began sinking off Oman’s coast on Sunday morning, June 14, 2026. The dhow, with 14 Indian crew aboard, was reported about 80 nautical miles east of Ras Al Hadd after suffering engine failure, forcing the crew to abandon ship and transfer to a liferaft.
A US Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft responded to the distress call, alerted shore authorities and the Indian Navy, dropped a life raft near the vessel and monitored the crew as they boarded it. The US aircraft also coordinated assistance from a nearby merchant ship, MV Jabal Ali 9, which was asked to divert to the site. The merchant vessel, sailing under the St Kitts and Nevis flag, had departed Sohar and was en route to Mumbai when it was called to assist.
The Embassy of India in Muscat said on X (formerly Twitter) on June 14, 2026 that 11 of the 14 crew of MSC Virat 1 had been rescued and taken aboard MV Jabal Ali 9, and that rescue of the remaining three crew members was ongoing and expected to be completed shortly. Authorities said MV Jabal Ali 9 was in the vicinity and would support further rescue efforts while regional agencies monitored the situation closely.
The incident comes amid heightened risks to commercial shipping in and around Oman and the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing West Asia conflict. It follows a separate strike days earlier on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello in the region, in which three Indian nationals were killed. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said on June 12, 2026 that he spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and protested the attacks; he added, “Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified.”
The US government has defended its earlier strike, saying the vessel violated the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports. New Delhi has directed relevant agencies to remain on high alert and to coordinate closely with the Indian Navy as rescue and investigation efforts continue. Authorities have not yet released further details about the condition of the rescued crew or the status of the stricken vessel.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/us-navy-assists-sinking-dhow-carrying-14-indians-off-oman-coast-14022295.html
Category: India
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Publish Date: 2026-06-14 18:04:00
