All 24 Indian Crew Safe After Fire on Vessel MT Marivex South of Hormuz | WATCH

A fire was reported on board the vessel MT Marivex on Monday afternoon, with 24 Indian seafarers on board. Indian authorities said all crew members are safe and multiple government agencies are coordinating to monitor the situation and ensure their security.The fire incident was confirmed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. "There has been a recent report that today, around 1:30 pm, there has been a fire reported on a vessel, MT Marivex, in which there were 24 Indian seafarers. This is the preliminary information which we have received, based on which, as per available information, all Indian seafarers are presently safe," Director in the Shipping Division of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Opesh Kumar Sharma

said at a press conference on Monday.

He said that the Ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Navy and the Indian missions abroad. "We are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, our Indian missions abroad, the Indian Navy, Ministry of Defence to ensure their safety," Sharma said.Read More -'Leave Iran Immediately': India Issues Fresh Advisory Amid Renewed Tension In Middle East

On whether the ship was hit by a projectile, Sharma said, "So whether the ship was hit by a projectile or not, presently we are trying to get absolute information." "The vessel was well out of the Strait of Hormuz and well clear to the south," he added. According to the ministry, the vessel, an oil tanker, was not carrying any cargo and was in ballast condition.

Earlier today, the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) had posted on X that the Indian seafarers aboard the vessel sought urgent assistance off the coast of Oman."Indian Navy in Harmouz 24 Indian Seafarers seeking urgent assistance at 2057.07N 059 degree 0813 off coast Oman onboard," the post read. The Embassy of India in Oman responded to the FSUI post and established direct contact with the seafarers aboard the vessel. "It is informed that embassy is has established contact," the embassy stated. Israel and Iran traded fire on Monday and the retaliatory strikes that threatened to drag the wider Middle East back into a full-scale regional war. It was the first exchange of fire since an April 8 ceasefire was reached.