MT Marivex, a Palau-flagged tanker that caught fire after being attacked by the US Navy off the coast of Oman had been black-listed and sanctioned by the US, while all the 24 Indian crew members onboard were safely rescued.
The vessel caught fire after being hit by a missile on Monday, June 8.
Addressing a media briefing on Tuesday, June 9, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the vessel was disabled off the coast of Oman. “We also understand that there was some exchange of communication between the shift and the US Navy before the incident,” PTI quoted Jaiswal as saying.
The MEA spokesperson said that the Indian Embassy in Oman coordinated with the authorities for rescuing the Indian crew.
“We thank the Oman government for their support in rescuing the crew and ensuring their safety. Our mission continues to be in touch with the seafarers,” he said.
According to PTI, the vessel had been black-listed and sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is the US Treasury Department’s financial intelligence and enforcement agency.
It is being said that MT Marivex made four attempts to evade the US blockage of Iranian ports.