New Delhi: A tense rescue operation is underway in the waters off the coast of Oman after a Nicaragua-flagged tanker, MT Petro Dolphin, became the latest target of a targeted drone strike. The vessel, which was carrying a crew of 11 Indian seafarers, was hit while stationed at the anchorage area near the port of Sohar on October 11.
Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the incident via social media, providing a brief update on the status of the crew. While nine of the Indian sailors have been successfully recovered and are reported to be in safe condition, the fate of two others remains uncertain as they have been declared missing.
“Search-and-rescue operations are actively underway by the local Coast Guard,” Sonowal stated. “We are continuously coordinating with all relevant authorities to fully support the ongoing rescue efforts and ensure every possible action is taken to safely locate our missing personnel.”
Diplomatic and Local Response
The Embassy of India in Muscat has officially acknowledged the crisis, confirming that it is maintaining constant communication with Omani authorities to facilitate the search efforts. The safety of the remaining crew members is the top priority for both the Indian government and the local maritime agencies involved in the operation.
This latest strike is part of a disturbing pattern of hostility targeting merchant vessels in the region. Only days prior, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker M/T Valthera, which also employed 11 Indian crew members, was struck by a projectile while transiting the volatile Strait of Hormuz. Although that attack resulted in a fire on board, all Indian sailors survived the ordeal.
Rising Threats to Indian Seafarers
The frequency of these attacks has placed immense pressure on the international shipping community. India, which maintains one of the largest workforces in global merchant shipping—boasting over 320,000 active seafarers as of 2025—has become increasingly vulnerable to the geopolitical instability in the Middle East.
Government officials have expressed deep concern over the escalating trend. The Ministry of External Affairs recently condemned a similar attack on a Panama-flagged vessel in the same vicinity, reiterating its stance that such acts of aggression against commercial shipping must cease to ensure regional peace and stability.
Since the onset of heightened military actions in the region on February 28, numerous Indian mariners have faced life-threatening encounters. Despite the danger, the critical nature of the Strait of Hormuz for global energy and trade routes ensures that vessels continue to transit the area, leaving Indian crew members on the front lines of an increasingly dangerous maritime environment. As the search for the two missing sailors from MT Petro Dolphin continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the mounting risks faced by those navigating these conflict-prone waters.
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