The Indian Navy successfully responded to a major engine room fire on board the oil products tanker MT Yi Cheng 6, flagged in Palau, while transiting approximately 80 nautical miles east of Fujairah, UAE.

The vessel, sailing from Kandla, India, to Shinas Port, Oman, reported the emergency late on June 29, 2025, after suffering a fire outbreak that led to a complete loss of power. The tanker was manned by 14 Indian crew members who immediately sent a distress signal.

In swift response, the stealth frigate INS Tabar, deployed in the region for maritime security operations, was diverted to assist. Firefighting personnel and equipment were transferred to the distressed tanker using both ship’s boats and helicopters. A joint team of Indian Navy specialists and vessel crew worked overnight to contain the situation. By the morning of June 30, the fire had been significantly brought under control.

The operation remains ongoing, with efforts focused on extinguishing remaining hotspots and assessing the full extent of the vessel’s damage. No casualties have been reported.

This intervention underscores the Indian Navy’s strategic role in safeguarding maritime security and ensuring the safety of seafarers in international waters, particularly in critical trade routes such as the Gulf of Oman.

PHOTO COURTESY: INDIAN NAVY