INS Tabar Battles Fire On Oil Tanker Yi Cheng With 14 Indians Onboard

The Indian Navy jumped into action on Sunday, June 29, after a Pulau-flagged ship sent out a distress call over a fire onboard. The Indian Navy posted on X, "Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Tabar, mission deployed in the Gulf of Oman, responded to a distress call from Pulau-flagged MT Yi Cheng 6, on 29 June. The vessel with 14 crew members of Indian origin, transiting from Kandla, India, to Shinas, Oman, experienced a major fire in the engine room and total power failure onboard."

The Indian Navy said the firefighting team and equipment from INS Tabar were transferred onboard by the ship's boat and helicopter. As many as 13 Indian naval personnel and 5 crew members of the stricken tanker are currently fighting the fire onboard MT Yi Cheng 6. Due to their efforts, the intensity of the fire has drastically reduced.

Indian Navy's MV Wan Hai Rescue

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard successfully rescued 18 of the 22 crew members aboard Singapore-flagged merchant vessel MV Wan Hai 503 off the Kerala coast. The ship was engulfed in flames following a container explosion onboard.

The distress signal was received around 9:30 AM on June 8, prompting the immediate deployment of INS Surat and a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to the site. The vessel had reported a severe onboard fire triggered by an internal container blast.

The Indian Navy administered first aid to the injured personnel at sea.

A police case was later filed against the owner, captain, and crew of MV Wan Hai for allegedly navigating the vessel rashly through the coastal waters, putting human lives in danger.

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