New Delhi: The Indian Navy redirected naval warship INS Teg deployed in the region after a Comoros-flagged oil tanker MV Prestige Falcon, with its crew of 13 Indians and 3 Sri Lankans onboard, capsized off Oman.
The Navy’s P8I reconnaissance aircraft is assisting the operation to trace the survivors of the tanker that sank about 25 nautical miles southeast of Ras Madrakah, Oman on the evening of 15 July.
On Wednesday night, the Indian Navy informed that 9 persons — 8 Indians and 1 Sri Lankan — were rescued in search and rescue efforts carried out in coordination with Oman authorities since 16 July.
The search and rescue are being undertaken in challenging weather conditions as the area is experiencing rough sea and strong winds, the Navy said in a post on social media platform ‘X’.
#IndianNavy's mission deployed warship #INSTeg, rendering SAR assistance for the capsized Oil Tanker MV #PrestigeFalcon, has rescued 09 (08 Indians & 01 Sri Lankan) personnel.
The MV had capsized about 25 NM southeast of Ras Madrakah, #Oman on #15Jul 24 & SAR efforts in… pic.twitter.com/ExXYj6PBTN
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 17, 2024
According to Reuters, the vessel remains “submerged, inverted” and it is not clear whether the vessel had stabilised, or whether oil or oil products were still leaking into the sea.
The tanker was heading to the Yemeni port of Aden and capsized off Oman’s major industrial port of Duqm, shows the data by financial markets data provider LSEG.
The Port of Duqm is located on Oman’s southwest coast. This is close to the country’s major oil and gas mining projects. It is a joint-venture between Asyad and Consortium Antwerp Port. The port is fully integrated with the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD).
The port, according to the Asyad, is capable of extending services such as MARPOL facilities, fresh water supply, fuel bunkering, ship-to-ship transfers at one of the multiple anchorage areas and domestic waste collection and treatment.
Separately, the Indian Navy, since December last year, has provided assistance to several merchant vessels, especially those that came to be hit by missiles or drones by the Houthi rebels and those that were attacked by Somali pirates.
This is an updated version of the report to include the rescue of 9 persons.
(Edited by Tony Rai)