Daijiworld Media Network - Muscat
Muscat, Jun 16: All 21 Indian crew members rescued from the oil tanker MT Settebello are returning safely to India from Oman, the Indian Embassy in Muscat announced on Tuesday, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the welfare and security of Indian citizens overseas.
Before their departure, India’s Ambassador to Oman, Prashant Pise, met the crew members, wished them a safe journey and commended their courage and perseverance during the traumatic incident.
According to the Indian Embassy, the Palau-flagged vessel MT Settebello was attacked while sailing around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Sohar in Oman. The incident resulted in the rescue of 21 Indian nationals, while three Indian seafarers lost their lives.
In a statement posted on X, the embassy said Oman’s Maritime Security Centre was immediately informed after the attack, prompting local authorities to launch search and rescue operations.
“MT Settebello, a Palau-flagged vessel, was about 30 nautical miles off the coast of Sohar, Oman, at the time of the attack. Oman Maritime Security Centre was alerted immediately, following which search and rescue efforts were initiated. Twenty-one Indian crew members were rescued, while three seafarers tragically lost their lives,” the embassy stated.
The incident has also triggered strong diplomatic reactions from India.
Last week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conveyed India's strong objection to the US Navy strike that reportedly targeted the oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, leading to the deaths of the three Indian sailors.
During the conversation, Jaishankar emphasised that attacks causing casualties among civilian maritime personnel and commercial vessels were unacceptable and stated that “such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified.”
Earlier, on June 12, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned US Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks to formally register India's protest over the continuing attacks on commercial ships operating near Oman's coastline.
Addressing the media, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had expressed its deep concern over the repeated incidents and demanded an immediate halt to such actions.
“We summoned the US Charge d'Affaires to convey our protest regarding the attack on the commercial vessel MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, in which three Indian nationals lost their lives. We expressed serious concerns over the repeated attacks and stressed that such incidents must stop immediately. We also conveyed our concerns regarding the targeting of commercial shipping, marine personnel and civilian infrastructure,” Jaiswal said.
Indian authorities have reiterated that the safety of Indian seafarers remains a top priority and that diplomatic efforts will continue to ensure the protection of civilian maritime operations in international waters.