Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed that all 24 Indian seafarers aboard two vessels involved in separate incidents are safe. The crude oil tanker MT ST 3, carrying 15 Indian crew members, was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on October 16. Meanwhile, the chemical tanker YARA J, with nine Indian nationals aboard, was hit by a drone off Romania on October 14. Sonowal assured that there were no casualties or injuries among the crew and that authorities are closely monitoring the situations while maintaining communication with the ship management companies to ensure their safety.
These incidents follow a troubling trend of attacks on vessels with Indian seafarers in the Gulf region. On October 11, the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin was attacked by a drone at Sohar Anchorage in Oman, leading to the rescue of nine crew members, while two Indian nationals remain missing. The local Coast Guard is conducting search-and-rescue operations, with Indian authorities coordinating efforts to locate the missing seafarers. Additionally, on the same day, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker M/T Valthera was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, but all 11 Indian crew members were reported safe.
India has condemned these attacks on commercial shipping, labeling them “legally and morally indefensible.” During a recent UN Security Council debate, India’s envoy called for de-escalation and emphasized the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue. The safety of seafarers is a priority for the Indian government, and these ongoing attacks pose significant risks to maritime security in the region, raising concerns about the safety of seafarers operating in these volatile waters.
