New Delhi: Three foreign-flagged ships carrying Indian crew members came under attack in the Gulf of Oman on September 8 and 9, but every seafarer is safe, according to a report by the Directorate of Maritime Administration.
The Zimbabwe-registered crude oil tanker Riesco was hit by United States Naval forces in the Gulf of Oman on September 8 at around 11 pm IST, the report said. However, all 21 Indian crew members had already evacuated the vessel and taken shelter at a secure location in an Iranian port before the strike, in view of the escalating crisis in the region.
As the US–Iran confrontation intensifies, a total of 10 vessels of Indian interest—both Indian-flagged and India-bound foreign-flagged ships—are currently in the Persian Gulf and have been flagged for evacuation, the maritime administration noted, as reported by News18.
Since the outbreak of the West Asia war following coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, four incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels and 50 involving Indian crew members have been recorded.
Modi Flags Seafarer Safety
Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of seafarers’ safety and called for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi. Pezeshkian arrived in the capital on Friday, September 11, to attend the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India.
Reaffirming India’s longstanding stance on the West Asia conflict, the Prime Minister said New Delhi remains committed to the pursuit of enduring peace in the region.
Writing on X, PM Modi said: “From Bishkek to Delhi, the productive discussions continue. Happy to have met Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran. This visit is more special because it is his first visit to India.”
“We talked about the India-Iran friendship. We believe that we should move forward with a long-term and win-win strategy. The prevailing situation in the region was also discussed. India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace”.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global maritime chokepoint accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas trade, turned into a major flashpoint after Iran blocked the waterway in retaliation for the US–Israeli strikes, disrupting shipping and sending energy prices soaring.