A fire was reported on board an oil tanker carrying 24 Indian sailors in the Persian Gulf on Monday, but all crew members are safe, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) said.
Speaking to reporters, Upesh Kumar Sharma, Director, Shipping Division, Ministry of Public Works, said all Indian ships and their crews operating in the Persian Gulf are under close monitoring.
Giving details of the incident, Sharma said: “There has been a recent report that today, at around 1:30 pm, a fire was reported on board the ship MT Marifix, which had 24 Indian sailors on board.”
The ministry said it is closely monitoring the situation amid the recent developments in West Asia and is coordinating with several government agencies to ensure the safety of Indian citizens at sea.
“This is the preliminary information we have received based on which, according to available information, all Indian sailors are currently safe,” Sharma said.
Government coordination with many parties
The Ministry of Shipping said it is working with other departments and Indian missions abroad to monitor the situation and support the crew if necessary.
“We are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, our Indian missions abroad, the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defense to ensure their safety,” Sharma said.
Earlier, while briefing the media on the latest developments in West Asia, the ministry said that all Indian ships and their crews currently operating in the Arabian Gulf are being closely monitored and all Indian sailors in the region remain safe.
