An Indian died from medical complications aboard the vessel MT ​Celestial while it was docked at Duqm Port ‌in Oman, the Indian embassy in Muscat said late Saturday (June 13, 2026).

The Indian mission identified the deceased as Nishanth Uirthanathan, who was on board MT Celestial. It stays in close contact with Mr. Uirthanathan’s family.

“Efforts are underway to facilitate the earliest possible disembarkation and repatriation of his mortal remains,” the embassy said in a post on ‌social media.

India has more than 300,000 seafarers working across global shipping fleets, according ‌to government data. More than 18,000 Indian seafarers ‌are ⁠employed in West Asia, ⁠an official in the country’s shipping ministry said last week.

The death comes days after three Indian seafarers were killed in ​a U.S. strike ‌on a tanker off Oman, triggering criticism from the public and opposition parties.

Opposition parties have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the ‌issue with U.S. President Donald Trump ​on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit later this week.

And on ⁠Friday (June 12, 2026), India took the rare step of lodging a second protest with the U.S. over a ‌strike that took place more than three months into the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it had summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires to convey “its deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against ‌civilian shipping.”

The body of 35-year-old Nishanth Uirthanathan, who ​died on June 11, remained onboard for more than two days without proper refrigeration, the ⁠Forward Seamen’s Union of India said on social ⁠media on Saturday (June 13, 2026).

“Crew is using cold water bottles in a desperate attempt to slow ‌decomposition – a horrifying and health-risking situation,” the Union said, sharing a video it said ​was from the tanker.

(With inputs from Reuters, PTI)

U.S. forces attacked a merchant ship carrying Indian seafarers for the third time in four days. Thursday’s (June 11, 2026) attack was on Guinea-Bissau flagged bitumen carrier Jalveer off the port of Shinas, Oman.

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The vessel had 20 Indian seafarers, and they were safe, said Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary of the Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry. “As per the latest information, evacuation [of crew] to Shinas port has commenced,” Mr. Mangal said at an inter-ministerial briefing on Thursday (June 11, 2026).

On Wednesday (June 10, 2026), the External Affairs Ministry had summoned the U.S. Chargé d’affaires Jason Meeks and lodged a “strong protest” regarding the attacks.

On Thursday (June 11, 2026), the Ministry, while emphasising that the “attacks came from the U.S. Navy stationed there”, described the strikes as “deeply worrisome” but blamed them on the ongoing conflict between U.S.-Israel and Iran in the region.

U.S. Centcom has said in a statement that two Hellfire missiles were fired into Jalveer’s engine room after the “crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces”. The ship was attacked for “attempting to transport Iranian oil.” 

Jalveer’s safety manager is an Indian company located in Chembur, Mumbai, as per the Equasis database.

U.S. aircraft attacked Palau-flagged tankers Marivex and Settebello on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. Three Indian seafarers on Settebello died in the attack, which the Indian government confirmed on Thursday (June 11).

The three attacks have targeted the engine rooms of the ships and sometimes the steering compartment but above the waterline. This would render the ship without the means to move or manoeuver but not sink it.

The Directorate General of Shipping had issued an advisory mid-February asking seafarer recruiters and shipowners not to deploy seafarers on ships calling on Iranian ports. An official source said the crew onboard the three vessels had joined before the advisory was issued.

Three missing Indian seafarers onboard MT Settebello confirmed dead: Sonowal

Family members of seafarer Aditya Sharma (23), a deck cadet on Settebello who was among the dead, urged the government of Himachal Pradesh, where they live, and the Centre to get his body back to the native Galore village in Hamirpur so that his last rites could be performed. Sharma was planning to visit home in May but decided to extend his stay at the vessel for a month, they said.

The official spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Randhir Jaiswal said efforts are underway to bring the mortal remains of the dead to India at the earliest.

Parties condemn attacks

The attacks were condemned by various segments of the political class with both the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) “strongly” condemning. 

The Congress statement said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “repeatedly showcased his personal rapport with President Donald Trump as a diplomatic achievement”, and added, “(Mr. Modi) cannot evade responsibility when that relationship fails to protect Indian lives and interests.” 

The CPI (M) called the strikes “illegal U.S. attacks”. “The government must issue a strong condemnation and demand full accountability for the loss of Indian lives. It should intervene and pressurise the U.S. to stop its attacks in West Asia and withdraw the blockade near the Strait of Hormuz and ensure free navigation,” it said in its statement.

(Inputs from Kallol Bhattacherjee, M. Kalyanaraman and PTI)  

A day after the U.S. forces attacked tanker Settebello and killed three Indian seafarers, another vessel, MV Jalveer, was attacked under similar circumstances near Oman on Thursday (June 11, 2026). This is the third such incident in four days. Jalveer is a Guinea-Bissau flagged asphalt tanker.

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Reports said there are 20 Indian seafarers onboard Jalveer. “We have learnt of an incident involving a vessel off Shinas port of Oman, earlier today [June 11, 2026]. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the local authorities for further details,” the Indian Embassy in Oman wrote on X.

Confirming the attack, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India general secretary Manoj Yadav told The Hindu, “Details are coming in, but the ship has been attacked. It has Indian crew on board.”

A source in the shipping industry said that like Settebello, Jalveer too was anchored. “We suspect this to be another attack froWest Asia war LIVE: Third ship with Indian crew attacked near Oman in four daysm the U.S. forces. We don’t know why they are targeting ships that are anchored as per their instructions.” The source was referring to the U.S. blockade of ships in the Gulf of Oman.

Issuing an alert, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said: “UKMTO has received a report of an incident 21NM northeast of Sohar, Oman. Local authorities have reported a tanker has experienced a fire in the engine room. No environmental impact has been reported. Authorities continue to investigate.”

Condoling the deaths of sailors aboard Settebello, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal posted on X on Thursday, “It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello. Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified. This is a profound loss to our maritime family. The Modi Govt stands firmly with the bereaved during this difficult hour and is fully committed to supporting the next of kin. I have directed officials to ensure immediate repatriation of the rescued crew members and swift return of the mortal remains of the deceased for their final rites.”

On June 8, the U.S. attacked oil tanker Marivex off the Oman coast with “precision munitions” fired from an F18 jet.

The attacks come amid renewed tensions in the Iran war where the ceasefire has all but collapsed. After Iran brought down a U.S. helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, the two countries have been trading strikes.