Indian Crew Safe After Suspected Attack on Tanker NCC Fajr
The Saudi Arabia-flagged tanker NCC Fajr suffered a possible attack on 11 November while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said all three Indian seafarers on board, along with the rest of the crew, are safe.
In a post on X, the minister said the government is closely following the situation and is in regular contact with the ship’s managers about crew safety. No damage or injuries have been reported so far. The total number of crew on board has not been disclosed, and no one has claimed responsibility for the incident. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre also reported an incident involving a tanker in the strait on the same day.
Industry sources describe the NCC Fajr as a 2013-built products and chemical tanker of about 81,000 dwt, owned by National Chemical Carriers, a joint venture of Saudi shipping company Bahri and SABIC.
From the CrewMirror Blog
Separately, Iran’s IRGC Navy claimed that two tankers hit naval mines and caught fire in the eastern part of the strait after using an unauthorised route with their AIS switched off. These claims have not been verified, no ships were named, and it is not clear whether they relate to the NCC Fajr.
This is the second incident involving Indian crew in two days, after one Indian seafarer was among four injured on the VLCC Fujairah Energy on 10 November. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has repeated its call for safe, free and unimpeded navigation in the region.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Crews transiting the Strait of Hormuz should keep a strict lookout, follow UKMTO and JMIC guidance, and make sure their families have the manning agency’s contact details. Seafarers whose agreements give them the right to refuse warlike-area voyages should know how to use it before the ship enters the area.
