An Indian deck officer has died aboard a tanker in the Sea of Oman after reportedly failing to receive timely medical assistance, according to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI).
The 35-year-old second officer serving aboard the tanker Celestial Sea became critically ill while the vessel was operating off Oman. FSUI said repeated requests for urgent medical evacuation were made, but assistance was delayed despite multiple distress alerts.
The officer died on June 11 before medical help could reach the vessel, the union said.
FSUI further alleged that the body remained onboard for three days until the vessel reached port. According to the union, crew members used bottles filled with cold water in an attempt to slow decomposition, because the ship lacked adequate refrigeration facilities.
On June 14, the Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed that the seafarer’s remains had been disembarked at the port of Duqm and transferred to a local hospital. The embassy said it is working with Omani authorities and the deceased’s family to arrange the repatriation of the body to India.
The cause of the officer’s illness has not been disclosed.
The incident adds to a growing list of casualties involving Indian seafarers in the Gulf region amid the ongoing Hormuz crisis.
The MV Celestial Sea, a 2007-built tanker sailing under the Arura flag, was itself involved in a security-related incident last month. On May 20, the vessel was boarded and redirected by U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman after being suspected of violating U.S. restrictions on trade with Iranian ports.
The case has renewed concerns over access to emergency medical assistance for seafarers operating in high-risk waters, where security restrictions and military activity can complicate evacuation procedures.
