A major maritime scare unfolded off the coast of Oman after the oil and chemical tanker Marivex caught fire while sailing toward Duqm with 24 Indian seafarers on board. A dramatic distress call from the vessel has gone viral, with crew members reporting severe damage, fire spreading across the ship and fears that the vessel could sink. The crew also claimed the ship may have been struck, although authorities have not confirmed the cause of the incident. The vessel was sailing from Karwar in India to Oman when the fire broke out. Indian authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, Shipping Ministry and Indian Navy, are closely monitoring the situation.

An escalation unfolds in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints as US-flagged merchant vessels and naval destroyers move through the Strait of Hormuz under heightened military coordination. Reports confirm a coordinated transit operation under what sources are referring to as “Project Freedom”, signaling a major shift in US-led maritime security posture in the region. According to defense briefings, US Navy guided-missile destroyers entered the Gulf via the Arabian Sea and supported the passage of commercial shipping lanes through the strait amid rising geopolitical friction. CENTCOM has indicated an active operational role in ensuring uninterrupted flow of commercial traffic, while simultaneously countering claims of hostile engagements in the area. WATCH