Panama-flagged MT On Peace was carrying 17 Indian nationals; injured sailors evacuated to Khasab with Omani assistance
Eleven Indian crew members were among 12 sailors injured after a Panama-flagged commercial vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The vessel, MT On Peace, had 19 crew members on board, including 17 Indian nationals. The incident occurred on Tuesday as the ship was navigating the strategically important waterway.
The injured crew members were evacuated with assistance from Omani authorities and taken to Khasab, where they are receiving medical treatment. India thanked the Omani authorities for their support in rescuing and assisting the sailors.
The MEA strongly condemned the attack but did not identify those responsible for the projectile strike. It said the repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region were a matter of serious concern for India.
New Delhi called for an immediate halt to attacks on merchant vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure, stressing the need to restore safe navigation and commercial movement through international waterways
“The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end,” the ministry said, while urging an early restoration of navigation and commerce.
The latest incident has again highlighted the risks faced by Indian seafarers working on international merchant vessels amid continuing tensions in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route for global trade and energy shipments, making attacks on commercial vessels a concern for shipping operators and governments.
India has repeatedly called for the protection of civilian shipping and the safety of its nationals caught up in regional conflicts, while advocating dialogue and diplomacy to address the wider crisis.
