Ship attacked off Oman coast
Ahmedabad: An Indian-flagged vessel carrying general cargo from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Somalia was allegedly struck by an unidentified aerial weapon off the coast of Oman on Oct 29 and engulfed in a fire that destroyed it completely. All 13 Indian crew members were rescued, while the vessel’s owner and crew members from Gujarat have incurred substantial financial losses. In a representation submitted to the Union ministry of external affairs on Saturday, Kasam Jafrabadi, a resident of Mota Salaya in Mandvi, Kutch, called for a probe into the incident and compensation for the loss of the vessel, MSV QUBA (MNV 2183).
The representation said the incident was not just a financial setback but had also raised questions about the safety of Indian nationals and an Indian-flagged vessel on a lawful international voyage. The representation expressed gratitude to the fishermen for their help, while drawing attention to the financial consequences of the incident for the vessel’s owner, captain, crew members and their families.
The family has sought financial aid and rehabilitation assistance for the 13 crew members and their families, besides information about the investigation. The family has asked the ministry of external affairs to intervene and coordinate with the Oman govt and maritime security agencies to ensure an impartial investigation. It has also called for the weapon used in the attack, as well as the individuals or organisations behind it, to be identified. The family has appealed to the Centre to fix legal responsibility and ensure that the probe proceeds beyond its preliminary findings.