Indian Cargo Vessel Sinks Off Oman Coast After Suspected Drone Strike; MEA Condemns Attack
An Indian-flagged cargo vessel, MSV Haji Ali, sank off the coast of Oman after a suspected drone or missile strike caused a fire onboard during its voyage from Somalia to Sharjah.
All 14 crew members were rescued safely by the Oman Coast Guard after escaping through lifeboats before the vessel went down in the sea.
The incident happened in the early hours of May 13 near Limah in Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz.
According to reports, a powerful explosion struck the vessel at around 3.30 am local time, causing a fire that quickly spread across the wooden cargo dhow.
The vessel was travelling from Berbera in Somalia to Sharjah in the UAE when the attack took place in Omani waters.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the incident and called the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian mariners “unacceptable”.
In its statement, the ministry said commercial ships and innocent crew members should not be targeted or endangered, and freedom of navigation and maritime commerce must be protected.
Officials said the Government of India remains in close contact with Omani authorities, Indian mission officials and maritime agencies following the incident.
Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the fire onboard eventually led to the sinking of the vessel.
He confirmed that all 14 crew members were rescued safely and taken to Dibba Port in Oman.
Ship owner Sultan Ahmed Sanghar also confirmed that every crew member survived the incident safely.
The vessel, officially identified as MSV Haji Ali BDI 1492, was registered at Salaya Port in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district.
The mechanised sailing vessel measured around 57 metres in length and 14 metres in width. Per reports, the vessel was carrying livestock cargo at the time of the incident.
Commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman region has faced increasing risks tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel escalated earlier this year.
This is the second Indian-linked vessel reported lost near the Strait of Hormuz within a week.
Earlier, another Gujarat-linked vessel, Al Faiz Noor Sulemani-1, reportedly sank after getting caught in firing in the region while sailing from Dubai to Yemen.
Shipping industry concerns have also increased as hundreds of vessels and thousands of seafarers remain affected by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy and shipping routes.
The incident also came as foreign ministers from BRICS countries, including Iran, met in New Delhi for their annual meeting.
Indian officials have repeatedly called for the protection of commercial shipping routes and safe passage for civilian vessels in the region.
Omani authorities have started investigating the incident. No group or country has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Earlier the same day, two India-bound LPG tankers, Symi and NV Sunshine, crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional tensions.
Their passage took the total number of Indian vessels that have crossed the route during the crisis to 13.
References: Times Now News, Reuters
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