FSUI appeals to ships, coast guards and maritime authorities to maintain vigilant lookout for missing crew
NEW DELHI : The maritime community has intensified its humanitarian appeal for the safe recovery of Sumit Kumar Singh, a 35-year-old Indian seafarer who remains missing following the attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman on September 13.
According to information shared by the Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI), Singh, who was serving as an oiler onboard MT El Gaia, is among the crew members still unaccounted for following the incident. FSUI has appealed to seafarers, fishing vessels, naval units, coast guard personnel and commercial ships operating in and around the Gulf of Oman, Musandam and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to maintain a heightened lookout for any person in the water, life raft, lifebuoy, debris or other floating object that could assist the ongoing search.
The appeal comes amid continuing search-and-rescue efforts by Omani authorities. The Maritime Security Centre of Oman has reported that 23 crew members were evacuated from MT El Gaia after a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room following the attack. The tanker is currently being monitored while being towed towards an Omani port, while search operations continue for the two missing crew members.
13 Indian Crew Members Rescued
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that 14 Indian crew members were onboard MT El Gaia and that 13 Indians have been rescued. The Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities in the continuing search-and-rescue operation. India has also thanked the Omani authorities for their assistance in rescuing Indian nationals.
The MEA has condemned the attack and stressed that targeting commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable. It has also called for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, and for the restoration of free and safe navigation and the unhindered flow of commerce through international waterways in the region.
Maritime Community Calls for Immediate Vigilance
FSUI has urged vessels navigating the wider Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches to remain particularly alert and immediately report any possible sighting of a missing person or floating survival equipment to the nearest coastal authority, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) or Oman Maritime Security authorities.
The federation emphasised that every minute is critical during a maritime search-and-rescue operation.
The appeal has also drawn attention to the human dimension of maritime security. Behind every seafarer working aboard a merchant vessel is a family waiting for their safe return. The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by seafarers who continue to operate commercial vessels through strategically important but increasingly challenging maritime corridors.
Circumstances of Attack Under Investigation
The precise circumstances surrounding the attack and responsibility for the incident remain under investigation. Recent maritime reporting has described the vessel as being struck by a projectile, while other accounts have offered differing explanations for the incident. No definitive attribution of responsibility has been made by the Indian Government.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of merchant shipping and seafarers navigating the wider Gulf region, where disruptions to maritime traffic can have consequences extending beyond individual vessels to global trade and energy supply chains.
For the maritime fraternity, however, the immediate priority remains the safe recovery of the missing crew members.
FSUI has appealed to all vessels and maritime authorities in the area to keep a sharp lookout and immediately report any possible sighting that could help locate Sumit Kumar Singh and the other missing seafarer.
One seafarer is one life, one family and one community waiting for his safe return.
