NEW DELHI: All 20 Indian seafarers aboard MT Jalveer are safe and crew evacuation operations have begun after the vessel was involved in a maritime security incident near Oman’s Shinas port, the government said on Thursday.The confirmation came hours after Indian authorities said they were monitoring an incident involving a vessel off the Omani coast amid heightened concerns over maritime security in the region.Additional Secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways Mukesh Mangal said no casualties or injuries had been reported.“On 11th June, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel, a bitumen tanker MT Jalveer, was reportedly involved in a maritime security incident in the vicinity of Shinas port, Oman. The vessel has 20 Indian seafarers on board, and all of them are reported to be safe. No casualties or injuries have been reported,” Mangal said. “As per the latest information, the evacuation of crew members to Shinas port has commenced. Six more are to be evacuated. The Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and is in continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions abroad and the Indian Navy and other relevant stakeholders, ” Mangal added. Earlier in the day, the Embassy of India in Muscat said it was coordinating with local authorities after learning of the incident.“We have learnt of an incident involving a vessel off Shinas port of Oman, earlier today. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the local authorities for further details.”The vessel was later identified by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) as MT Jalveer, which shared its reported location on social media.“M.T. Jalveer 24.52.700N 056.46.00.E LOCATION OF VESSEL @Indemb_Muscat”The incident comes amid heightened tensions in Gulf waters following a series of attacks on commercial vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz.This was the third maritime security incident involving commercial shipping this week. The report noted that the US military had earlier attacked MT Marivex and MT Settebello, both of which had Indian seafarers on board.Earlier on Thursday, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the deaths of three Indian seafarers who had initially been reported missing following the attack on MT Settebello.“Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified,” he said.India had summoned the US deputy chief of mission and lodged a “strong protest” over the strike on MT Settebello.
