Indian seafarer killed as torpedoes hit cargo ship near Oman, 19 Indians among survivors

An Indian seafarer was killed after the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao came under attack near Oman Wednesday while sailing towards India, with two reported torpedo strikes hitting the vessel’s accommodation area and the hull near its engine room.

The deceased was identified as Suraj Yadav, a wiper from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed the death of an Indian national and said it was coordinating with Omani authorities and the recruitment agency to ensure the safety of the surviving crew and provide assistance to the bereaved family.

Two strikes hit vessel

According to information released by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), MV Cape Dao was carrying 28 crew members when it was attacked. Twenty of those aboard were Indian nationals, including Yadav.

The union said two torpedoes struck the port side of the vessel — one hitting the C-deck, where crew accommodation was located, and another striking the hull near the engine room.

Yadav reportedly suffered a head injury in the attack and later died. Another Indian crew member, a fourth engineer, sustained a minor injury.

The surviving crew members were evacuated with assistance from Omani forces and taken ashore. They were reported to be safe, while the respective recruitment and placement agencies were coordinating with the vessel’s owners and managers.

The precise circumstances of the attack and those responsible were not immediately established.

Embassy monitoring situation

The Indian Embassy in Oman said it was closely monitoring developments and remained in coordination with Omani authorities over the safety and welfare of the crew.

The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of civilian shipping and Indian seafarers operating around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman amid heightened regional tensions.

The FSUI called for accountability and safe passage for civilian seafarers, arguing that merchant crew members were increasingly being exposed to attacks while working aboard commercial vessels in the region.

The union has also announced that seafarers will wear black ribbons on September 25 in protest against attacks on merchant shipping and to draw attention to the risks faced by crew members.

Indian sailors face growing risks

The latest attack comes amid a series of incidents involving merchant vessels carrying Indian crew in waters around Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this month, the Panama-flagged tanker MT El Gaia, carrying 14 Indians, was attacked off Oman. Thirteen crew members were rescued while one was reported missing.

In June, three Indian seafarers were killed after the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello was struck northeast of Sohar in Oman. The vessel had been carrying 28 crew members, including 24 Indians.

India has repeatedly expressed concern over attacks on commercial vessels in the region and called for the protection of civilian seafarers, safe navigation through international waterways and de-escalation of regional tensions.

The latest attack has added to those concerns, particularly because of the large number of Indian nationals employed aboard merchant ships transiting through the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.