All 19 Indian seafarers aboard the Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker MT DOMINICA PROSPERITY were safe after the vessel was targeted in a projectile attack off Mina Saqr in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 11.
The 22-member crew was swiftly evacuated by the UAE Coast Guard, with no injuries reported, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.
In a post on X, Sonowal said the Indian government remained in continuous contact with the ship management company to ensure the safety, welfare and logistical support of the crew.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on commercial oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters amid escalating tensions in West Asia.
On November 11, a Saudi Arabia-flagged oil tanker carrying three Indian seafarers was also involved in a suspected attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. All crew members were reported safe.
Earlier, on November 10, another Liberia-flagged tanker carrying six Indian seafarers was struck by a projectile while sailing through the Persian Gulf from Al Ruwais to Dubai. The incident left four crew members injured, including an Indian national who sustained minor injuries and was taken ashore for medical examination. The remaining 18 crew members, including five other Indians, were reported safe.
With attacks on commercial shipping increasing in the region, India has called for restraint and strict adherence to international maritime law to safeguard merchant vessels and seafarers.
The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated India’s call for safe, free and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was in touch with all concerned parties to prevent attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, including Indian-flagged vessels and Indian nationals working aboard foreign-flagged ships.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transit corridors, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of global petroleum flows. India depends significantly on the route for its crude oil imports, while Indian nationals constitute nearly 10–12 per cent of the global maritime workforce.