MUSCAT, Oman, June 14: A major rescue operation was launched off the coast of Oman after a dhow carrying 14 Indian nationals began sinking on Sunday, sources said.
The distress situation unfolded approximately 80 nautical miles east of Ras Al Hadd, Oman, on the morning of June 14.
Upon receiving information that the vessel was in danger, the U.S. Navy alerted shore authorities to initiate an emergency response, according to sources.
In a swift rescue operation, a U.S. Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft responded to the crisis by dropping a life raft near the vessel and monitoring the evacuation of those on board.
The U.S. Navy also coordinated surface assistance from a nearby merchant vessel, MV Jabal Ali 9, a St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged ship.
Following these measures, the crew members boarded the life raft after the dhow reportedly began sinking.
Sources said the exact cause of the sudden sinking was not immediately known.
Confirming the developments, the Embassy of India in Muscat said on Sunday, “The Mission has learnt of an incident involving Indian-flagged mechanized sailing vessel Virat 1, off the coast of Oman, reportedly carrying 14 Indian crew members. Search and rescue operations are being coordinated with the Omani authorities and vessels in the vicinity of the incident.”
The incident occurred in a maritime corridor that has gained heightened strategic importance because of escalating tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints.
The successful rescue operation comes at a time when commercial shipping lanes and international maritime operations near Oman and the broader Strait of Hormuz continue to face disruptions linked to the wider conflict in the Middle East.
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