'Unacceptable': MEA condemns attack on Indian-flagged ship off Oman coast, crew safe
MEA says all Indian crew members on board the vessel were safe and had been rescued with assistance from Omani authorities
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged commercial vessel off the coast of Oman, calling the targeting of civilian shipping and mariners “unacceptable” amid escalating maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider West Asia region.
In an official statement, the MEA said all Indian crew members on board the vessel were safe and had been rescued with assistance from Omani authorities.
“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the MEA said.
India also reiterated that attacks on commercial shipping and any attempt to impede freedom of navigation and maritime commerce must be avoided.
According to officials of the shipping Ministry, the vessel involved was the Indian dhow MSV Haji Ali, a mechanised sailing vessel travelling from Somalia to Sharjah in the UAE, which reportedly encountered the attack in Omani waters in the early hours of May 13. The incident triggered a fire onboard and eventually led to the sinking of the vessel.
All 14 crew members onboard were safely rescued by the Omani Coast Guard and taken to Dibba Port in Oman. The crew members are reported to be safe and the necessary formalities with local authorities have been completed.
The government said it remained in close coordination with authorities in Oman, Indian mission officials and relevant maritime agencies following the incident.
The incident comes against the backdrop of rising insecurity in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz -- one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes -- amid continuing conflict and military escalation in West Asia.
While the MEA did not identify those responsible for the latest attack, the region has witnessed a series of strikes and security incidents involving merchant vessels in recent months linked to the wider Iran-US, Israel confrontation and growing military activity involving regional and global powers.
India has repeatedly voiced concern over attacks on merchant shipping in the region and has maintained close coordination with Gulf countries to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers and maritime traffic.
Last month, New Delhi had also expressed “deep concern” after two Indian-flagged vessels that came under attack while crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials added that apart from the MSV Haji Ali incident, no other incidents involving Indian vessels or foreign vessels carrying Indian seafarers had been reported in the past 72 hours, and all Indian seafarers currently in the region were safe.
