Five Indian seafarers were safely brought ashore after a Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Embassy in Oman said on Friday.
The embassy said it coordinated the rescue of the five Indian nationals aboard the MT Kazimah III following the incident. All five were safely evacuated from the vessel, and the mission thanked Omani authorities for their assistance during the operation.
“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. We thank the Omani authorities for their continued support and assistance," the embassy wrote on X.
The embassy did not disclose who was behind the projectile strike or provide further details about the nature of the attack.
The tanker, which is sailing under the Kuwaiti flag, was carrying crude oil and was headed towards Lome in Togo.
India Steps Up Monitoring Of Seafarers
The incident comes as India keeps a close watch on the safety of its citizens working aboard commercial vessels in and around the Persian Gulf.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said earlier this week that more than 4,500 Indian seafarers were working aboard commercial vessels operating in the region.
Of these, around 163 Indian seafarers were aboard 12 cargo vessels, including six India-flagged ships and six foreign-flagged vessels carrying cargo to India.
Jaiswal said the Ministry of Shipping was monitoring the movement of the vessels and the welfare of Indian seafarers in coordination with Indian diplomatic missions and local authorities.
The spokesman also said India remained committed to the safety and welfare of its seafaring community abroad, with embassies and other stakeholders ready to assist when required.
“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 stated.
