Indian Sailors Rescued Off Oman Coast as Muscat Coordinates Emergency Response
The Indian Embassy in Muscat mobilised an emergency response after a fire broke out aboard the oil tanker MT Marivex south of the Strait of Hormuz, placing 24 Indian sailors at risk. Simultaneously, Oman cricket reached a landmark milestone as an all-Omani squad departed Muscat for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — a historic debut for the Gulf state on Asia's biggest multi-sport stage.
Indian Embassy Muscat Coordinates Rescue of 24 Sailors After Tanker Fire
The Indian Embassy in Muscat announced it is coordinating with Omani authorities following a fire aboard the oil tanker MT Marivex, which was carrying 24 Indian seafarers off the coast of Oman. The Embassy posted on X: "The Mission is seized of an incident involving a ship with Indian sailors onboard. We are in touch with the Omani authorities for their rescue and safety." India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed the fire broke out on the MT Marivex south of the Strait of Hormuz. Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director in the Shipping Division, said the fire was reported at approximately 1:30 pm on Monday during an inter-ministerial briefing on developments in West Asia. Sharma stated that based on preliminary information, all Indian seafarers were presently safe. The tanker was operating in ballast condition and carried no cargo at the time. All 24 crew members aboard were Indian nationals. The ministry said it was working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian diplomatic missions, the Indian Navy, and the Ministry of Defence to ensure the safety and welfare of the crew. Sharma added that authorities were also working with the vessel's owners to ascertain the full facts, including whether the vessel had been struck by a projectile. [2]
🎉 Oman Cricket's All-Omani Squad Makes Asian Games Debut in Japan
Oman cricket reached a historic milestone as the Sultanate's all-Omani men's cricket squad departed Muscat for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The 15-member squad is composed entirely of home-grown Omani players, marking the first time Oman has competed at the Asian Games with such a squad. Oman is also the only GCC country competing in the men's T20I cricket tournament at the Games. The team secured qualification at the Asian Games qualifiers held in Singapore in May 2026, where Oman defeated both Singapore and Bahrain. Oman Cricket Chief Development Officer Duleep Mendis said: "We had planned and wished for an all-Omani team at the Asian Games for many years. Finally, we have one. Our boys did very well to qualify and make history in Singapore, and we are proud of them." Captain Sufyan Mehmood described the opportunity: "This is Oman's debut in the Asian Games and it is a great opportunity for us to showcase our talent. We have trained hard and played practice games, and now it is time to deliver and reach the second round." The development project that built this squad launched in March 2025. Players gained experience through a bilateral series against Bahrain in April 2025. Oman Cricket funded the team's participation independently, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, which arranged paid leave for players. [1]
🏢 Indian LPG Tankers Prepare to Transit Hormuz Amid Regional Uncertainty
Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tankers were preparing to sail through the Strait of Hormuz after a pause in voyages, according to Reuters and shipping data from Kpler. Hundreds of vessels had dropped anchor in Gulf waters following Tehran's threats to attack ships attempting to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries approximately 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply. The two Indian tankers were anchored in Gulf waters while authorities monitored the security situation, according to data from Kpler and shipping sources. Market assessments indicated there had been no crude oil tanker voyages through the waterway in the preceding 24-hour period. One empty crude oil tanker, subject to U.S. sanctions, was separately tracked returning toward Iranian waters. A Reuters photograph showed the Luojiashan tanker anchored in Muscat harbor during the period when Iran vowed to close the Strait, amid the broader U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The movement of Indian-flagged vessels through Hormuz reflects the importance of this shipping lane to India's energy supply, as Indian LPG tankers serve domestic fuel needs and depend on uninterrupted passage through the Gulf. [3]
Sources: [2] Times of Oman · [1] Muscat Daily · [3] gCaptain