NEW DELHI: A Liberia-flagged oil tanker carrying six Indian seafarers came under attack while transiting the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, leaving four crew members injured, including one Indian national, Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said.The vessel, MT FUJAIRAH ENERGY, was travelling from Al Ruwais to Dubai when it was hit by a projectile, Sonowal said in a post on X.“On Nov 10, Liberia-flagged VLCC MT FUJAIRAH ENERGY, carrying 6 Indian seafarers, was hit by a projectile while transiting the Persian Gulf from Al Ruwais to Dubai. Four crew members sustained injuries in the attack, including one Indian national, who suffered minor injuries and has been safely taken ashore for further medical examination,” the Union minister said.Sonowal added that the remaining 18 crew members, including the other five Indian seafarers, were safe.“The remaining 18 crew members, including the other 5 Indian seafarers, are safe and accounted for. We are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in close contact with the ship management company to ensure the ongoing security, medical care and wellbeing of our seafarers,” Sonowal added.The incident comes amid heightened security concerns over commercial shipping and the safety of Indian seafarers in West Asia, with vessels navigating strategically important maritime routes facing repeated attacks.Earlier, on November 3, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had lost 23 nationals in the ongoing West Asia conflict.He also confirmed that five Indian nationals had been killed in attacks targeting commercial shipping in the Black Sea region, while two others remained missing.
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In a separate incident, Indian seafarer Gandhar Nahim Ajij, from Gujarat, was killed when a commercial vessel carrying 14 Indian crew members came under attack off the coast of Oman. The remaining 13 Indian nationals were rescued, and the government was working to facilitate their repatriation.Jaiswal reiterated India’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and restore peace in the region.He also stressed that freedom of navigation through international waters and waterways must be restored and guaranteed.
