Body found, 9 men rescued in Oman tanker crew search

Nine Rescued and Body Found in Search for Missing Tanker Crew Off Oman

AL-MUKALLA: Nine crewmen from an oil tanker that capsized off Oman have been rescued, and a body has been recovered, according to the Omani maritime agency.

In a post on X, the Omani Marine Security Center confirmed that the rescued sailors, comprising eight Indians and one Sri Lankan, are in “good health” and receiving medical attention.

Ongoing Search for Missing Crew

Six remaining crew members from the Yemeni-bound and Comoros-flagged tanker, the Prestige Falcon, are still missing after the vessel capsized 25 nautical miles southeast of Ras Madrakah, near the Omani port town of Duqm, on Monday. The Omani Marine Security Center stated that search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining missing crew members.

Omani vessels and personnel, along with an Indian Navy warship, have joined the search efforts. The Omani Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology reported on Wednesday that the Prestige Falcon “almost completely” sank. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation. The ministry has prioritized rescuing the missing crewmen, followed by righting the ship and addressing any potential environmental hazards.

Escalating Threats and Environmental Concerns

This incident comes amid rising tensions as Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi has reiterated threats to continue attacks in busy shipping lanes. Despite a recent strike that resulted in an oil spill in the Red Sea, Al-Houthi announced on Thursday that 25 ballistic missiles, drones, and drone boats have been launched at ships in the past seven days alone. He claimed that the militia’s attacks on 170 ships since November have led to significant disruptions, including financial strains on the Israeli port of Eilat and the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower’s departure from the Red Sea.

Environmentalists have raised alarms about the consequences of these attacks. The recent oil spill in the Red Sea has resulted in a 200 km slick moving south, posing a threat to the region’s fragile ecosystem. Wim Zwijnenburg from the Humanitarian Disarmament Project at Dutch peace organization PAX stated that diesel from the damaged tanker is spreading to a marine conservation area near Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Island and Eritrea’s Dahlak archipelago.

“The Red Sea is home to various protected species, including turtles, sharks, and fish such as the coral grouper. But there are also indications that both pollution and climate change are affecting coastal fishing communities and coral reefs,” Zwijnenburg explained. “This conflict-linked oil spill is just a sad continuation of further degradation of the unique ecosystems in the Red Sea.”

Recent Houthi Attacks and International Response

On Monday, a Houthi drone boat struck and damaged the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion northwest of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. Since November, the Houthis have carried out attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean, claiming these actions are in support of the Palestinian people and to pressure Israel to end its war in Gaza.

In response, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and has designated the militia as a terrorist group. Houthi media reported on Thursday that US and UK forces conducted three airstrikes on Hodeidah city airport in Yemen’s western province of Hodeidah.

The search and rescue operation off the coast of Oman continues as efforts focus on locating the remaining missing crew members from the Prestige Falcon. The ongoing conflict and related attacks in the region underscore the broader geopolitical tensions and their impact on maritime security and environmental health. The situation remains fluid, with international responses and ongoing investigations likely to influence future developments.