Mumbai: A Liberia-flagged LPG tanker, MT Al Maryah, with nine Indian seafarers on board, was reportedly hit by a drone while sailing eastbound outside the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.
India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has taken cognizance of the incident and said that the vessel did not suffer any major damage.
Its power and main engine remain operational and it is currently anchored safely at Khor Fakkan, the DGMA report has said. All 19 crew members on board, including the nine Indian nationals, have also been confirmed safe.
Six Indian-flagged vessels and seven foreign-flagged vessels of Indian interest were in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz, with a total of 145 Indian seafarers on board, the report said.
Nine vessels of Indian interest – comprising Indian-flagged and India-bound foreign-flagged vessels – remain in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz, and have been identified for evacuation, it said, as reported by Hindustan Times.
These include seven fertilizer cargo vessels and two others.
There have been four incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels and 58 involving foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew so far. The DGMA has directed Indian-flagged vessels to remain in constant touch with authorities while in the conflict zone.
The attacks on merchant ships have resulted in the deaths of 10 Indian seafarers, while 12 were injured. One Indian national is missing and presumed death, the report said.