India says crew of vessel involved in ‘incident’ near Ras al-Khaimah rescued

• All 22 Indian crew members aboard the oil tanker MT GEM No. 2 were rescued and reported safe after an incident off the UAE coast.
• The vessel was reportedly struck by a drone while anchored off Sharjah on October 9. The UAE National Guard said a fire broke out aboard an oil tanker and confirmed the rescue of all 22 crew members.

All 22 Indian crew members aboard the oil tanker MT GEM No. 2 have been rescued and are safe following an incident off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, India’s Consulate in Dubai said on Sunday.

The incident involved the tanker off Ras Al-Khaimah, according to the consulate, which said it was coordinating with UAE authorities to provide assistance to the Indian seafarers.

“The Consulate is in touch with UAE authorities and is extending all possible assistance and support to the Indian seafarers,” the mission said in a post on social media.

The vessel was identified as the Panama-flagged oil tanker MT GEM No. 2. Indian media reports said it was struck by a drone on October 9 while anchored off Sharjah, with all 22 Indian crew members reported safe.

The UAE National Guard separately reported that a coast guard team had rescued 22 crew members after receiving a report of a fire aboard an oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf. The crew received first aid before being handed over to the relevant authorities, and their medical condition was described as stable.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns for commercial shipping across the Gulf and surrounding waterways, as regional tensions raise risks for vessels and seafarers.

India has been monitoring the safety of its nationals working aboard commercial ships in the region and coordinating with authorities in Gulf countries to assist crew members when incidents occur.