SRINAGAR: Five Indian nationals aboard a Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker were safely brought ashore after the vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Embassy of India in Oman said.
The Indians were on board MT Kazimah III, which was hit while sailing through the strategic waterway. The Indian mission in Muscat coordinated their rescue and said all five had been safely shifted ashore.
“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 post on X. It thanked the Omani authorities for their continued assistance.
The tanker, which was en route to Lomé in Togo, is a crude oil carrier operating under the Kuwaiti flag.
The rescue comes as India continues to monitor the safety of its seafarers operating on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and other maritime routes affected by security risks.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday that more than 4,500 Indian seafarers were serving aboard commercial vessels operating in the region. He said 163 Indian seafarers were on 12 active cargo ships, comprising six India-flagged vessels and six foreign-flagged vessels carrying cargo to India.
“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.
He added that more than 4,500 other Indian seafarers were aboard commercial vessels operating in the area.
Jaiswal said the Ministry of Shipping was coordinating with Indian diplomatic missions and local stakeholders to monitor vessel movements and the welfare of Indian seafarers.
“Our Ministry of Shipping continues to monitor the movement of these ships and is looking at the well-being of all these seafarers, and as and when required, through our embassies and other stakeholders, they do the needful for their well-being and welfare,” he said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also raised concerns over attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers during his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly last month. He said India was committed to ensuring the safety and security of shipping and seafarers and called for restraint and de-escalation in the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz has witnessed a series of incidents involving commercial vessels amid heightened regional tensions. The latest incident involving MT Kazimah III has added to concerns over the safety of crews operating through the major international shipping route.
