Tragedy at sea! Oil tanker disaster off Oman leaves 16 missing

A major maritime disaster unfolded off the coast of Oman on Monday, as a Comoros-flagged oil tanker, the Prestige Falcon, capsized approximately 25 nautical miles southeast of Ras Madrakah, near the port town of Duqm. The incident has left 16 crew members, including 13 Indians and three Sri Lankans, missing, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation.

Incident Details:

– Vessel: Prestige Falcon, Comoros-flagged oil tanker.

– Location: 25 nautical miles southeast of Ras Madrakah, near Duqm.

– Crew: 16 members (13 Indians, 3 Sri Lankans).

– Status: Submerged and inverted.

Oman’s Maritime Security Center, coordinating the rescue efforts, confirmed the ongoing search for the missing crew. The tanker, which remains submerged and in an inverted position, poses significant challenges for the rescue teams. The vessel, manufactured in 2007, measures 117 meters in length and was en route to the Yemeni port of Aden when the tragedy occurred.

The cause of the capsizing is still under investigation, and it remains unclear whether the tanker was carrying oil or other products at the time of the accident. Concerns about potential environmental damage have not been addressed as of now, with no confirmation on whether the tanker was leaking oil into the sea.

The incident near Duqm, an important industrial and shipping hub on Oman’s southwest coast, highlights the persistent risks in maritime transport, particularly for routes traversing through geopolitically sensitive regions.

As the search operation continues, the international maritime community watches closely, hoping for the safe recovery of the crew and further clarity on the implications of the capsizing for regional shipping and environmental safety.