Oil Vessel Capsizes Off The Coast Of Oman, 16 Crew Members Including 13 Indians Missing

Prestige Falcon, an oil tanker flagged under Comoros, on Tuesday reportedly capsized off the coast of Oman. After the incident, all the 16 crew members, which included 13 Indian nationals and 3 Sri Lankan nationals, onboard the tanker disappeared prompting the Maritime Security Centre (MSC) of Oman to launch a search and rescue operation. The incident occurred, while the vessel was en route to the Yemeni port city of Aden. The Maritime Security Centre (MSC) of the Omani Defence Ministry, confirmed the reports.

The MSC on Tuesday took to X, to report the incident, revealing that the tanker capsized 25 nautical miles Southeast of Ras Madrakah, close to the port town of Duqm.

“Indian Navy’s warship INS Teg has been deployed along with maritime surveillance aircraft P-8I along with the Omani vessels and personnel to carry out search and rescue missions after a Comoros-flagged vessel with its crew including 13 Indians capsized. The Indian warship was carrying out operational turnaround in the area from where it was directed on July 15 to carry out search and rescue missions. The warship had located the capsizing oil tanker on July 16 morning,” ANI tweeted quoting Defence sources.

The MSC, in its post, tweeted, “A Comoros flagged oil tanker capsized 25 NM southeast of Ras Madrakah. SAR Ops initiated with the relevant authorities.”

"Search and rescue operations have been initiated with the relevant authorities," the MSC stated, without providing specific details on the cause of the incident.

The cause behind the capsize has not been specified yet, the sultanate’s Maritime Security Centre (MSC) said.

Efforts are being made to rescue the missing crew members.