A Kuwait-flagged oil tanker, M/T Al Dasma, carrying 21 Indian seafarers was hit by an unidentified projectile while transiting through the strategic Strait of Hormuz on October 21. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all Indian crew members aboard the vessel are safe.
The incident occurred amidst heightened security vulnerabilities confronting commercial shipping across Middle Eastern maritime trade corridors. Minister Sonowal emphasized that all crew members, including the Indian contingent, remain unharmed.
He added that maritime authorities are in continuous communication with the ship’s operating management company to ensure the ongoing security and well-being of the seafarers. According to a report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the strike occurred approximately 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman. The impact triggered a localized fire on board, which was subsequently brought under control, leaving the tanker temporarily stationary in the waterway.
Growing Concerns Over Seafarer Safety
The recurring targeting of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz has intensified safety concerns regarding Indian maritime personnel operating in volatile regional waters. The strike follows a similar attack on October 16 targeting another vessel, M/T S.T. 3, where all 15 Indian crew members were similarly reported safe.
Reiterating its diplomatic stance, New Delhi called for an immediate cessation of strikes against commercial shipping and non-combatant crews, urging strict adherence to international maritime laws to ensure unhindered freedom of navigation across international sea routes.
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