New Delhi, Oct 22: A Kuwait-flagged oil product tanker carrying 21 Indian seafarers was struck by an unidentified projectile while sailing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, October 21. All crew members aboard the vessel have been reported safe, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed.
Representational Image
The vessel, M/T Al Dasma, came under attack while transiting the busy maritime corridor, raising fresh concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Gulf region amid escalating regional tensions.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Sonowal said all 21 Indian crew members, along with the remaining crew aboard the tanker, were safe. He added that the government was closely monitoring developments and maintaining contact with the ship’s management company to ensure the continued safety and well-being of the seafarers.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident was reported approximately 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman.
A report by Times Kuwait said the impact triggered a fire aboard the tanker, which was subsequently brought under control. The vessel reportedly remained stationary following the incident, while all crew members were accounted for and safe.
The circumstances surrounding the strike, including the origin of the projectile, were not immediately established.
Second Tanker Incident Involving Indian Seafarers
The latest incident follows another attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. On October 16, the crude oil tanker MT ST 3, carrying 15 Indian seafarers, was reportedly struck by a projectile in the same waterway.
Indian authorities subsequently confirmed that all Indian nationals aboard that vessel were safe and that no casualties had been reported.
The two incidents have heightened concerns about the risks faced by Indian seafarers working aboard commercial vessels navigating one of the world’s most strategically significant shipping routes.
Concerns Over Maritime Security
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for international energy supplies, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Disruptions to shipping in the region can have implications for global oil transportation, energy markets and international trade.
India has consistently called for the protection of merchant vessels and seafarers, stressing that attacks on commercial shipping undermine maritime security and freedom of navigation.
New Delhi has maintained that attacks on commercial vessels and merchant mariners are legally and morally indefensible, while emphasising the importance of ensuring the safe and uninterrupted movement of maritime commerce through international waterways.
With the latest incident involving M/T Al Dasma, authorities continue to monitor the evolving security situation and coordinate with the vessel’s management to safeguard the crew.
Although all seafarers aboard the tanker have been reported safe, the incident underscores the continuing security challenges confronting commercial shipping in the Gulf region.