Five Indian nationals safely rescued after tanker struck in Strait of Hormuz

Five Indian nationals were safely brought ashore after a Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker carrying them was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Embassy of India in Oman said.

The Indians were aboard MT Kazimah III, which was travelling towards Lomé in Togo when it was hit. The Indian mission in Muscat coordinated their rescue and thanked the Omani authorities for their assistance.

“Earlier today, the Mission coordinated rescue of five Indian nationals on board the Kuwait-flagged tanker MT Kazimah III, struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. All 5 Indian nationals have been shifted ashore safely,” the embassy said in a statement on Friday.

The vessel, a crude oil tanker sailing under the Kuwaiti flag, was headed towards the port of Lomé in Togo, according to shipping data available online.

India monitors thousands of seafarers in Gulf

The rescue comes amid heightened efforts by India to monitor the safety of its nationals working aboard commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday that more than 4,500 Indian seafarers were currently working aboard various commercial vessels operating in the region.

He said six India-flagged commercial vessels and six foreign-flagged vessels carrying cargo to India were in the Persian Gulf. Around 163 Indian seafarers were aboard the 12 vessels.

“At this point, we have six India-flagged commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf. We also have six foreign-flagged vessels which are carrying cargo to India. So 12 ships are there. On these ships, we have around 163 Indian seafarers who are on board,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing.

“Apart from this, we also have over 4,500 Indian seafarers who are on board various commercial vessels which are operating in the area,” he added.

Jaiswal said the Ministry of Shipping was working with Indian diplomatic missions and local stakeholders to track vessel movements and monitor the safety of Indian seafarers.

The Persian Gulf, along with the Red Sea and the Black Sea, has faced growing maritime security risks, with commercial ships and their crews coming under repeated attacks.

Jaishankar flags attacks on commercial shipping

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also raised concerns over attacks on commercial vessels and their crews during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly last week.

“New challenges in the maritime domain have added to longstanding ones on land,” Jaishankar said, referring to attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers in the Gulf and from the Red Sea to the Black Sea.

He said Indian seafarers had lost their lives in such attacks, along with seafarers from other countries, and described the situation as unacceptable.

Jaishankar also said India had joined Liberia and 23 other partner nations to build international support for protecting commercial shipping routes.

“We must ensure that the safety and security of shipping and seafarers is never compromised. Scrupulously observing international law is an integral element of that endeavour,” he said.

The latest incident involving MT Kazimah III comes as authorities continue to monitor the security of one of the world's key maritime routes and the safety of Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in the region.