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The incident occurred while the vessel was sailing towards the Omani port of Duqm. Reports initially suggested that the tanker had come under attack and had issued a distress call, prompting concerns over the safety of the Indian crew.
Providing an update, Director in the Shipping Division Opesh Kumar Sharma said preliminary information indicated that a fire had broken out on board the vessel around 1.30 pm.
"There has been a report of a fire on board the vessel Marivix, which had 24 Indian seafarers on board. Based on the preliminary information available with us, all Indian seafarers are safe," Sharma said.
He said the government was coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew.
The development comes at a time of heightened uncertainty across West Asia following renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel, which have raised concerns over the security of commercial shipping routes in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
Reacting to the incident, the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) termed it a matter of "serious concern" and called for swift action to safeguard the crew.
"The reported attack on a vessel carrying 24 Indian seafarers near Oman is a matter of serious concern. FSUI urges swift and coordinated action to ensure the safety of the crew, provide support to their families and uphold the security of seafarers at sea," the union said.
The union said it was closely monitoring the situation and urged authorities, international agencies and maritime stakeholders to prioritise the protection, welfare and timely assistance of the crew while ensuring regular communication with their families.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over maritime security in the region, through which a significant share of global energy supplies and commercial cargo passes every day.
India has been closely monitoring developments in West Asia, where thousands of Indian nationals, including seafarers, are employed across the shipping and energy sectors. The government has in recent days issued advisories for Indian citizens in Iran and Israel amid the deteriorating security situation.
Officials said efforts were continuing to gather further details about the vessel and the circumstances surrounding the incident. The safe status of all 24 Indian crew members, however, has brought immediate relief to their families and maritime authorities.