Ahmedabad Times

India-flagged mechanised crusing vessel (MSV) Virat 1 sank off the coast of Oman on Sunday after struggling a mechanical failure, prompting a significant rescue operation involving Omani authorities, the US Navy and close by business vessels.The incident occurred round 80 nautical miles east of Ras Al Hadd, Oman, on the morning of June 14. Virat 1, which had 14 Indian crew members on board, reportedly skilled an engine failure earlier than starting to tackle water and ultimately sink.After receiving info that the vessel was in misery, the US Navy alerted shore authorities and launched an emergency response. A US Navy P-8 maritime patrol plane was deployed to the world, the place it dropped a life raft close to the vessel and monitored the evacuation of the crew, as reported by ANI.The US Navy additionally coordinated help from MV Jabal Ali 9, a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged service provider vessel working close by. The crew members subsequently transferred to the life raft as Virat 1 started sinking.Confirming the incident, the Indian Embassy in Muscat stated: “The Mission has learnt of an incident involving an Indian Flagged Mechanised Crusing Vessel Virat 1, off the coast of Oman, reportedly embarked with 14 Indian crew. Search and Rescue is being coordinated with the Omani authorities and vessels in neighborhood of the incident.”In a later replace, the embassy stated: “It has emerged that the vessel skilled an engine failure, and the crew ultimately transferred safely to a life raft. Rescue operation is presently underway by ships in neighborhood, underneath coordination of Omani authorities.”