Two commercial tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz region on Oct. 11, leaving two Indian seafarers missing and raising fresh concerns over the safety of shipping through the strategic waterway.
The Nicaragua-flagged MT Petro Dolphin, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was struck by a drone at Sohar Anchorage off Oman. Nine crew members were rescued and confirmed safe, while search-and-rescue operations continued for the other two. The Indian embassy in Muscat coordinated with Omani authorities and the vessel’s management company.
A second tanker, the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera, was hit by an unidentified projectile that caused a fire. Its 11 Indian crew members were reported safe. The supplied reporting also described one target as a Suezmax carrying Iraqi crude that had sailed on Oct. 8, while the other was a product carrier struck by a drone.
The incidents followed another attack on Oct. 9 involving the Panama-flagged MT Gem No. 2 at Sharjah Anchorage. All 22 Indian nationals aboard that vessel were reported safe, making the latest attacks part of a series of incidents involving Indian seafarers in the region.
India called for immediate de-escalation and a diplomatic resolution. Its foreign ministry said attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure must stop, while freedom of navigation and the safe, unimpeded movement of maritime commerce must be upheld under international law.
The attacks occurred as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intensified threats against tankers using dark mode along a southern route near Oman, while U.S. Naval strikes on Iranian-linked vessels added to the risks facing commercial shipping. The continuing search for the missing seafarers and coordination between Indian and Omani authorities were the immediate next steps described in the reporting.