An Indian-flagged dhow named Virat 1 faced an emergency situation near the coast of Oman after it suffered an engine failure and began taking on water. The vessel was carrying 14 Indian crew members, all of whom were safely rescued.
The incident occurred about 80 nautical miles east of Ras al Hadd in Oman. After receiving reports that the vessel was at risk of sinking, the US Navy informed both Omani authorities and the Indian Navy, leading to a rescue operation.
According to the Indian Embassy in Muscat, the engine malfunction forced the crew to leave the vessel and move to a liferaft. Rescue efforts were then coordinated with Omani authorities and nearby ships.
A US Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft helped in the operation by deploying a liferaft and monitoring the crew. The aircraft also requested assistance from MV Jabal Ali 9, a cargo ship that was travelling from Sohar to Mumbai. The vessel later reached the area and assisted in the rescue mission.
The Indian Embassy said it was closely monitoring the situation and working with local authorities to ensure the safety of all crew members.
Officials clarified that the incident was caused by a technical problem and was not linked to the recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman. In recent days, several foreign-flagged ships carrying Indian sailors were attacked in the region, resulting in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
Authorities have stressed that the Virat 1 incident was purely an accident caused by engine failure, and not the result of any hostile action.