MUMBAI: An unmanned Nicaragua-flagged merchant tanker, MT Al Jafzia, ran aground near Manori Island on Sunday after its anchor chain snapped amid rough weather, while two other anchored vessels drifted closer to the coast, officials said.The other two vessels — Mali-flagged bitumen tanker MT Asphalt Star and Iranian-flagged tanker MT Stellar Ruby — were dragged by strong winds and rough seas, drifting to around 11 nautical miles (20.3 km) off Manori Island, police said.The Indian Coast Guard deployed INS Samrat, INS Samudra Prahari, and the Directorate General of Shipping’s Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) to monitor the situation, while Gorai police remained in coordination with the Coast Guard.Local fishermen said it was unsafe to approach the vessels in small boats because of high winds, rough seas and the rocky coastline.The incident involves the same three Dubai-owned vessels that were intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard in February 2026 over an alleged fuel theft and Iranian bitumen smuggling racket. Authorities had alleged the ships carried out illegal mid-sea ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian bitumen and fuel while switching off tracking systems and operating despite OFAC sanctions.Following a tip-off, the Coast Guard detained MT Asphalt Star, MT Stellar Ruby and MT Al Jafzia within Indian territorial waters. An FIR was registered on February 15 against the shipowner and eight others under multiple laws, including the Customs Act, Petroleum Act, Essential Commodities Act, Information Technology Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, before the vessels were handed over to Yellow Gate Police.The shipowners later approached the Bombay High Court seeking permission to move the vessels. In May, the court allowed only MT Al Jafzia to be shifted to the Alang shipyard in Gujarat after obtaining all necessary clearances, while refusing permission for the other two vessels as the investigation into them was still underway.Investigators also alleged the three ships repeatedly changed their identities to evade coastal enforcement agencies. After the owners abandoned the vessels and deserted their crews, the Bombay High Court ordered the rescue and repatriation of 50 stranded Indian seafarers in May.
