Indian Crew Safe After Drone Strike on LPG Tanker Near Strait of Hormuz
A Liberia-flagged LPG tanker, the M.T. Al Maryah, was struck by a drone while navigating eastbound waters just outside the volatile Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. According to a preliminary assessment prepared by the Directorate of Maritime Administration, the vessel sustained minimal impact, and no major structural damage was reported following the aerial strike.
The vessel’s operational integrity remains intact; both its main engine and onboard power systems are fully functional. Following the incident, the ship was diverted and is currently anchored securely at Khor Fakkan, where authorities are conducting a formal assessment of the damage and the safety of the crew.
Safety of Indian Nationals Confirmed
Amid growing concerns over maritime security in the Persian Gulf, the safety of the vessel’s personnel has been confirmed. All 19 crew members currently on board are safe and unharmed. Notably, the manifest includes nine Indian nationals. This incident marks a continuation of the precarious security environment in the region, which has seen an uptick in drone and projectile attacks targeting commercial merchant shipping.
The Directorate of Maritime Administration revealed that there is a significant presence of Indian maritime interests in the region. Currently, six Indian-flagged vessels and seven foreign-flagged ships with Indian crew members are positioned in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz. Together, these vessels are home to 145 Indian seafarers.
Evacuation Plans and Regional Tensions
In response to the escalating threats, Indian authorities have identified nine vessels of critical interest for priority evacuation. This group includes seven cargo ships transporting essential fertilizer supplies and two additional merchant vessels. Officials are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safe passage or extraction of these crews as the geopolitical landscape in West Asia remains fragile.
The frequency of such attacks has become a major point of concern for New Delhi. Official reports indicate a troubling tally of maritime hostilities: to date, there have been four documented incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels and 58 separate strikes against foreign-flagged ships that employed Indian crew members. The human cost of these regional tensions has been significant, with the report confirming 10 fatalities, 12 injuries, and one individual presumed dead in previous strikes.
India’s Stance on Maritime Security
The Indian government has consistently maintained a firm stance against the targeting of merchant shipping and civilian infrastructure in West Asia. High-level diplomatic communications have reiterated the necessity of maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters and have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities that endanger the lives of seafarers.
While Sunday’s drone strike on the M.T. Al Maryah serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in these trade routes, no further operational safety or security incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels or Indian seafarers were reported throughout the remainder of the day. The Directorate continues to coordinate with maritime security agencies to ensure the safety of Indian personnel operating in these high-risk zones.
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