NEW DELHI, Oct. 7: Eleven Indian sailors were among 12 crew members injured when a Panama-flagged commercial vessel was struck by a projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, prompting India to condemn attacks on merchant shipping and demand the restoration of safe navigation through international waterways.
The vessel, MT On Peace, was travelling through the strategically important waterway off the coast of Oman when the incident occurred. Of its 19 crew members, 17 were Indian nationals, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The ministry confirmed that the injured crew members had been evacuated with assistance from Omani authorities and were receiving medical treatment in Khasab, Oman.
India thanked Oman for helping rescue the sailors and arranging medical assistance.
The government did not identify the source of the projectile or attribute responsibility for the attack to any country or armed group. Details of the vessel’s damage and the medical condition of individual crew members were not immediately provided.
New Delhi expressed concern over the continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the region, warning that such incidents endangered civilian crews and disrupted international trade.
The MEA called for an immediate halt to attacks on merchant vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure, saying the safety of international shipping routes was essential to regional peace and economic stability.
The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most important maritime passages. It is particularly significant for India because of the country’s dependence on international shipping for energy supplies and merchandise trade.
Any sustained disruption to navigation through the strait could affect the movement of crude oil, petroleum products and other commercial cargo, while exposing shipping companies and their crews to additional risks.
The incident involving MT On Peace comes against the backdrop of continuing regional hostilities and mounting concerns about the safety of civilian shipping.
India has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve ongoing conflicts and has opposed attacks on commercial vessels, irrespective of where they occur.
In a separate development, New Delhi also condemned an attack on the merchant vessel Royad Mammadov in the Black Sea, where two foreign seafarers were killed and several crew members, including Indian nationals, were injured.
The MEA said Romanian authorities had rescued the injured personnel and arranged medical treatment.
Three Indian nationals serving aboard the vessel were safe, the ministry confirmed.
India thanked Romania for its prompt response and assistance following the incident.
The two attacks, occurring in different maritime regions, have renewed concerns about the exposure of civilian shipping crews to armed conflicts.
Commercial vessels routinely operate with multinational crews, including large numbers of Indian seafarers. Attacks on these ships can therefore have direct consequences for Indian citizens even when the vessels are registered in other countries.
New Delhi said the targeting of international shipping was damaging global commerce and threatening the welfare of people whose livelihoods depend on maritime trade.
The government reiterated that commercial navigation should not become a target of military hostilities and urged the parties involved in ongoing conflicts to pursue diplomatic solutions.
India has also sought greater international cooperation to protect merchant vessels and their crews.
In September, India and Liberia launched a 25-nation Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers during the United Nations General Assembly.
The initiative is intended to strengthen international attention and cooperation on protecting commercial shipping and maritime personnel from targeted attacks.
The latest incidents demonstrate the practical importance of those efforts, particularly for countries such as India with substantial maritime trade interests and a large workforce employed aboard international merchant vessels.
For Indian authorities, the immediate priority following the Strait of Hormuz incident is the welfare of the injured sailors and coordination with Oman over their treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the projectile strike, including who carried it out, remain unclear.
With commercial vessels facing security threats in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, India has renewed its appeal for an end to attacks on civilian shipping and the restoration of safe passage through international waters.
