A tragic maritime accident in the Arabian Gulf has claimed two Indian seafarers’ lives and left another crew member missing after a suspected US military strike hit a commercial tanker in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz sector. It has raised diplomatic eyebrows and raised fears over the safety of civilian shipping in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
The ship involved in the incident was a Palau-flagged oil products tanker, Settebello. The ship was carrying 28 crew, including 24 Indian nationals, when it was attacked in the Gulf of Oman near the Omani port of Sohar. The attack caused extensive damage to the engine room of the ship and set fire to the ship, a marine transport company said.
At first, Indian authorities confirmed that 21 Indian crew members had been rescued while three were missing after the attack. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched with the assistance of Omani authorities and the Indian Embassy in Oman.
I was soon told by seafarers' organisations that two of the missing Indian sailors were dead. The deceased were Aditya Sharma, a deck cadet, and Shivanand Chaurasiya, an engine fitter. Meanwhile, Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh is missing, and efforts are on track to find him.
The tanker was likely struck by a US missile of some sort through ongoing US military campaigns in the region and military operations related to the increasing tensions in the region, maritime security sources said. There are reports that the engine room of the tanker was hit directly at the time, and the crew were severely damaged.
India strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep concern about the safety of Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-prone waters. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the continued attacks on commercial shipping as deeply worrying and called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in West Asia. India has also stressed the need to protect civilian infrastructure and ensure the free movement of commercial vessels through international waterways.
New Delhi summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires and protested the incident in a major diplomatic move. Indian officials have asked for explanations of the strike and pointed out the importance of safeguarding civilian mariners who work in the area.
The tragedy highlights the growing risks faced by merchant sailors as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Gulf region. There are tens of thousands of Indian seafarers aboard international ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is the world’s most important transit artery for energy supplies and commerce. The deaths of the two Indian sailors have once again brought to mind the dangers faced by civilian maritime workers caught in the middle of international conflicts.
