Mumbai: An unmanned Nicaragua-flag merchant tanker, MT Al Jafzia, ran aground almost a kilometre near Manori island after it broke away from the anchor chain, while two other vessels washed closer to the island after they got dragged due to rough weather despite being on anchorage, said police.The two other vessels — Mali-flagged bitumen tanker MT Asphalt Star and Iranian-flagged tanker MT Stellar Ruby — washed closer to about 11 nautical miles, 20.3km from Manori island, said police.On noticing the vessel, local fishing community alerted the Gorai police after realising it would be dangerous for a small boat to enter the water to inspect the ship as the beach was rocky and wind speed was high. Police and the Coast Guard monitored the situation.An ICG official said they received message from DG Shipping on Sunday regarding the three vessels being dragged due to inclement weather conditions. “ICGS Samrat, which was in the area, was diverted for assessing the situation and necessary assistance to the vessels. DG Shipping was simultaneously requested to deploy ETV Water Lily for rendering assistance. Presently, MT Asphalt Star and MT Stellar Ruby are ascertained to be anchored and crew of ships are safe. MT Al Jafzia was unmanned on anchorage and has presumably run aground off Manori,” said the official.The official said ICGS Sagar Prahari and ETV Water Lily will remain in the area for rendering assistance.The three vessels were managed and owned by Dubai-based entities. In Feb 2026, the Indian Coast Guard, in a coordinated sea-air operation, intercepted and detained the Asphalt Star along with two other tankers in the Arabian Sea. Authorities alleged that the vessel engaged in illicit mid-sea ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian bitumen and fuel while employing deceptive practices, such as switching off tracking systems and operating under OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctions.On a tip-off, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted and apprehended three vessels over alleged illegal fuel smuggling. These ships were anchored approximately 11 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast. The Coast Guard intercepted these vessels within Indian territorial waters, and an FIR was registered against the ship owner and eight others on Feb 15. Subsequently, they were handed over to the custody of the Yellow Gate police.Consequently, the shipowners filed a petition in the Bombay High Court demanding the release of these vessels. The HC had in May granted permission to move vessel Al Jafzia, one of the three ships intercepted in connection with a fuel theft and bitumen smuggling case, to Alang shipyard in Gujarat. The court issued orders directing to obtain all necessary permissions from the Indian Coast Guard and other relevant departments to ensure this process was completed.Investigation agencies found that the seized ships, identified as the Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia, frequently changed their identities to evade coastal law enforcement. Because the vessel owners abandoned the ships and deserted the crew, the HC had in May intervened and ordered the immediate release and repatriation of the 50 Indian seafarers stranded onboard.TOI is in possession of the FIR in which the owner and crews of the three vessels were booked under the Customs Act, Essential Commodities Act, Petroleum Act, Information Technology Act, Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prohibition of Unfair Practices, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections.