Muscat/New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Eight Indian crew of a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that capsized off Oman on Monday night have been rescued, the Indian Embassy in Oman said on Wednesday evening. Five Indian crew are still missing.
The Indian Embassy in Oman said in a post on X that nine crew members of the sunken Prestige Falcon have been rescued by INS Teg. They include eight Indians and one Sri Lankan. Search for the remaining survivors continues.
“Embassy is coordinating Search and Rescue ops with Omani authorities and @indiannavy for MT Prestige Falcon, a Comoros flagged vessel that capsized off the coast of Oman on July 15th.
“9 crew including 8 Indians have been rescued today by INS Teg. Search for the remaining survivors continues,” it posted.
Oman’s Maritime Security Centre said the crew of ‘Prestige Falcon’ comprised 13 Indians and three Sri Lankans.
According to reports, the 117-meter-long oil ship Prestige Falcon sank 25 nautical miles off Oman’s coast near Duqm, late on Monday night.
Oman’s Maritime Security Centre said the vessel remained “submerged, inverted”.
Shipping data by LSEG showed that the tanker was heading to the Yemeni port of Aden and capsized off Oman’s major industrial port of Duqm.
The Indian Navy said that the Search and Rescue operations are being undertaken in challenging weather conditions as the area is experiencing rough sea and strong winds.
The Indian Navy also deployed the its Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft P8I in assisting in search for survivors.
The port of Duqm is on Oman’s south-west coast, close to the sultanate’s main oil and gas projects. These include a major oil refinery in Duqm’s vast industrial zone, Oman’s biggest single economic project.
