Indian seafarer dies aboard MT Celestial at Duqm port

An Indian seafarer has died aboard a merchant vessel docked in Oman, an incident that has sparked allegations of negligence and delayed medical assistance amid heightened regional tensions. Nishanth Uirthanathan, a 35-year-old second officer from Tamil Nadu, passed away due to medical complications while serving on the MT Celestial at Duqm Port. The Embassy of India in Muscat confirmed his death on Saturday, June 13, and stated it is coordinating with the ship management company and local authorities to facilitate the repatriation of his remains to India.

According to a letter signed by 15 crew members and reports from the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), Uirthanathan first fell seriously ill on June 8. The crew alleges that despite repeated distress calls to the ship’s company, naval authorities, and Duqm Port Control, no immediate medical evacuation was provided as his condition deteriorated. He reportedly became unconscious on June 11 and died later that day. The union further alleges that his body remained onboard for more than two days without proper preservation facilities, forcing crew members to use improvised methods like cold water bottles.