Kuwait-flagged tanker with 21 Indian seafarers hit by projectile in Strait of Hormuz; all crew safe
A Kuwait-flagged oil product tanker carrying 21 Indian seafarers was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on October 21, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said. All those on board are reported safe.
The vessel, M/T Al Dasma, was hit while passing through the waterway amid continuing security concerns for commercial shipping in the Gulf region. In a post on X, Mr Sonowal said the 21 Indian crew members, along with the rest of the ship's company, were "completely safe".
"We are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in close contact with the ship management company to ensure the ongoing security and wellbeing of our seafarers," the minister added.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which tracks incidents affecting merchant shipping, the strike took place about 11 nautical miles west of Bukha in Oman. Reports said the impact started a fire on board, which was subsequently put out. The tanker remained stationary after the incident and no casualties were reported.
The origin of the projectile has not been established, and officials have not attributed the strike to any party.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean. A substantial share of the world's seaborne oil passes through it, which is why any disruption there draws attention from governments, shipping companies and insurers well beyond the region.
The incident is the latest in a series involving commercial vessels with Indian crew members. On October 16, the crude oil tanker MT ST 3, carrying 15 Indian seafarers, was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Sonowal said at the time that all Indian nationals on board were safe and no casualties were reported.
In a separate incident on October 14, the chemical tanker YARA J, carrying nine Indian seafarers, was hit by a drone at Sulina Anchorage off Romania. The minister said all 24 Indian nationals on the two vessels involved in those incidents were safe, with no casualties or injuries.
Earlier, on October 11, the Ministry of External Affairs condemned attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. It referred to the tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, which was reportedly struck by a drone at Sohar Anchorage. Nine crew members were rescued, while two remained missing. In the same statement, the ministry noted that the Marshall Islands-flagged MT VALTHERA had been struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire on board; all 11 Indian seafarers on that vessel were reported safe.
India has repeatedly voiced concern over attacks on commercial vessels and merchant mariners during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. New Delhi has described attacks on commercial shipping as "legally and morally indefensible" and stressed the need to protect seafarers and uphold freedom of navigation.
The Ministry of External Affairs has called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure, underlining the importance of ensuring the "safe and unimpeded flow of maritime commerce through international waterways".
The government has said it remains in contact with ship management companies to monitor incidents involving Indian seafarers and to ensure their security and wellbeing. Indian merchant mariners form a significant part of the global shipping workforce, and their safety has become a recurring concern as security risks in key maritime corridors persist.
