A Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier, M/T Al Mayeda, carrying six Indian seafarers, was struck by a projectile in the Persian Gulf on October 30 amid escalating tensions in West Asia. All 25 crew members, including the six Indian nationals, are safe, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed.
In a post on X on Saturday, Sonowal said the Indian government was closely monitoring the situation and remained in contact with the ship management company to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the crew.
The incident adds to a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the region. On Friday, Sonowal had confirmed that all 29 Indian crew members aboard two tankers targeted in separate incidents on October 29 and 30 were unharmed, with no casualties reported.
Earlier, Panama-flagged oil tanker MT Louise 1, carrying 27 Indian seafarers, sustained damage from limpet mines inside the Strait of Hormuz. The incident marked the first confirmed use of such explosives against a vessel in the area since the US-Iran war began in February.
The safety of Indian seafarers has become a growing concern amid the continuing hostilities. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 22 Indian nationals, including 14 seafarers, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The issue of maritime security also featured prominently at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised concerns over repeated attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, stressing the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation.
In a message shared on X, Jaishankar highlighted that countries in the Global South were disproportionately bearing the consequences of the conflict, with attacks on commercial shipping threatening the availability and affordability of essential commodities, including fuel, food and fertilisers.
The latest incident involving M/T Al Mayeda underscores the growing security risks facing merchant vessels and their crews in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing calls for the protection of civilian shipping and uninterrupted maritime trade.