Indian Navy Rescues 14 Indian-Origin Crew Members After Fire Erupts on Oil Vessel in Gulf of Oman

Muscat/New Delhi, June 30 — A massive fire broke out onboard oil vessel MT Yi Cheng 6 in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday, prompting a swift and courageous response from the Indian Navy. The vessel, carrying 14 crew members of Indian origin, experienced a major fire in the engine room and a total power failure while en route from Kandla Port in India to Shinas, Oman.

The Indian Naval Ship INS Tabar, already mission-deployed in the region, promptly responded to the distress call sent by the Pulau-flagged tanker on June 29. Firefighting teams and equipment were transferred onboard the stricken vessel via boat and helicopter.

According to an official statement by the Indian Navy, 13 naval personnel, along with five crew members from the Yi Cheng 6, were directly involved in bringing the blaze under control. "The intensity of the fire has been drastically reduced," the Navy reported in an X (formerly Twitter) post.

This incident underscores the Indian Navy’s continuing commitment to maritime safety and rapid response operations. Earlier this month, the Navy had similarly responded to a fire aboard MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship that caught fire off the coast of Kerala.

The MT Yi Cheng 6 had departed from Kandla on its voyage to Oman when it encountered the emergency. The vessel suffered total power failure after the fire broke out in the engine room, putting the crew in significant danger.

The timely intervention by INS Tabar prevented what could have been a catastrophic maritime disaster. All 14 crew members are reported to be safe, and firefighting efforts remain ongoing to ensure complete containment.

Further investigations are expected to determine the cause of the fire.