Omani military helicopters rescued 24 Indian seafarers from the MT Marivex after U.S. forces struck the oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman [1].
The incident underscores the volatility of maritime corridors in the region and the direct impact of U.S. blockade efforts against Iran on neutral crew members.
The strike occurred June 8, 2024 [2], near Masirah Island off the coast of Oman [1]. U.S. forces fired a missile to disable the vessel and prevent it from reaching an Iranian port [2]. The U.S. said the move was necessary because the tanker's trajectory violated the U.S. blockade of Iran [2].
The attack caused a fire to break out on the MT Marivex, which is a Palau-flagged vessel [1]. The crew faced immediate danger as the fire spread across the tanker. Omani military helicopters arrived at the scene to conduct an emergency airlift of the crew [1].
All 24 Indian crew members were successfully evacuated from the burning ship [1]. India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement thanking Oman for the timely rescue of the seafarers [1].
Reports on the specific nature of the attack vary. Some sources identified the weapon as a missile strike [1], while other reports said a U.S. fighter jet fired at the tanker [2]. Despite the conflicting details on the delivery method, the result was the disabling of the Palau-flagged ship to ensure it did not reach its destination in Iran [1].
The rescue operation concluded with all sailors safely removed from the vessel before it was completely overcome by the fire [1].
“All 24 Indian crew members were successfully evacuated from the burning ship”
This event highlights the precarious position of merchant mariners operating in contested waters, where geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran can lead to kinetic actions against commercial vessels. The reliance on Omani military assets for the rescue demonstrates the critical role of regional cooperation in managing the humanitarian fallout of U.S. blockade enforcement.
