In a significant development, the Indian Navy warship INS Teg successfully rescued eight Indian nationals who had gone missing following the capsizing of an oil tanker off the coast of Oman on July 15. Among those rescued was also a Sri Lankan national. The oil vessel had a total of 16 crew members, including 13 Indians.According to defence officials, a coordinated rescue operation involving the Indian Navy and Omani agencies is currently underway in the area. The Indian Navy dispatched INS Teg, along with maritime surveillance aircraft P-8I, to join Omani vessels and personnel in the rescue mission immediately after the incident was reported.INS Tegs Swift ResponseSources revealed that INS Teg was engaged in an operational turnaround in the vicinity when it received orders to participate in the search and rescue efforts. The warship located the capsized oil tanker on the morning of July 16.#IndianNavys mission deployed warship #INSTeg, rendering SAR assistance for the capsized Oil Tanker MV #PrestigeFalcon, has rescued 09 (08 Indians & 01 Sri Lankan) personnel.The MV had capsized about 25 NM southeast of Ras Madrakah, #Oman on #15Jul 24 & SAR efforts in… pic.twitter.com/ExXYj6PBTN— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 17, 2024Details from Indian NavySharing details of the ongoing mission, the Indian Navy posted on social media platform X, stating that it had deployed INS Teg to provide Search and Rescue (SAR) assistance for the capsized oil tanker MV Prestige Falcon. The Indian Navy noted that the tanker had capsized approximately 25 nautical miles southeast of Omans Ras Madrakah.The rescue operation faces significant challenges due to extreme weather conditions, including rough seas and strong winds. Despite these obstacles, the Indian Navy and Omani agencies continue their efforts to locate the remaining crew members.Incident DetailsThe oil vessel, flagged under Comoros, capsized near Omans major industrial port of Duqm. The Maritime Security Centre (MSC) confirmed the accident a day later, stating that there were 16 crew members on board, 13 of whom were Indian nationals.The rescue mission continues as authorities strive to ensure the safety of all crew members despite the harsh weather conditions hampering the operation.
