All 24 Indian seafarers aboard two vessels involved in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and Romania are safe, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday.
The minister added that the government was closely monitoring both incidents and coordinating with the ship management companies to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian crew members. In a post on X, Sonowal said crude oil tanker MT ST 3, carrying 15 Indian seafarers, was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on October 16, while chemical tanker YARA J, carrying nine Indian seafarers, was hit by a drone at Sulina Anchorage in Romania on October 14. Meanwhile, on October 11, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal said two Indian nationals remain missing after the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was subjected to a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage on October 11, while nine crew members have been rescued and are safe.
“Thankfully, all 24 Indian nationals across both vessels are completely safe with no casualties or injuries,” Sonowal said. Addressing the United Nations Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said that India called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities and urged all parties to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. “The safety and security of seafarers remains a priority for Government of India and these recurring attacks risk further aggravation of a very volatile situation,” the envoy said.
