Video Shows IRGC Boats Surrounding Indian-Crewed Ship, Firing RPG In Strait Of Hormuz

A seafarers’ union has released video of an April 22 incident in which it says an Indian-crewed vessel was attacked by boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) said the vessel had 22 crew members, including 21 Indians. According to the union, several small boats surrounded the ship, an RPG was fired and crew members took shelter inside the vessel.

“These were not pirates. They were naval forces of the IRGC,” FSUI said in a post on X.

The footage shows at least seven speedboats moving around the cargo ship. It also shows broken glass, which the union said was caused by gunfire or other projectiles.

In another video, crew members can be seen gathered in an alleyway for safety. A photograph shows a man holding what FSUI identified as an RPG launcher aimed at the ship.

The vessel was identified in the source material as Euphoria, a Panama-flagged container ship. It was one of three vessels attacked by Iranian forces on April 22.

The crew were unharmed, according to the information provided. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified.

Indian crews face repeated risks

India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said two of the three foreign-flagged vessels fired upon by Iranian forces that day had 22 Indian seafarers on board.

At least one Indian seafarer was also among the crew of a vessel taken into Iranian custody. The government said the seafarers were safe.

Indian sailors have also been affected by attacks from other sides of the conflict.

In June, three Indian sailors were killed when U.S. forces struck Indian-crewed commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. India later urged Washington to stop attacks on shipping and summoned a U.S. official over the strikes.

By July, reports said eight Indian seafarers had been killed in U.S. and Iranian attacks on vessels in and around the Strait. At least 10 civilian ships carrying Indian seafarers had reportedly been targeted since the conflict began.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said at least 16 Indians, including 10 seafarers, were killed in attacks between February and July.

The risks have also extended to other conflict zones. At least five Indian sailors were killed in the Black Sea last month, with four killed in a Russian attack and one in a Ukrainian attack, according to the supplied information.

The FSUI statement came shortly after Somali pirates hijacked a Somalia-bound vessel and took its crew, including six Indians, hostage.

On 22 April, in the Strait of Hormuz, a vessel carrying 22 crew members, of whom 21 were Indian, faced a deeply distressing situation.

These were not pirates.
They were naval forces of the IRGC.

Videos show several small boats surrounding the vessel, the intensity of the… pic.twitter.com/5UgxtZETSd

— FSUI (@FSUIINDIA) August 20, 2026

Hormuz shipping traffic drops sharply

Only five commodity vessels crossed the strait on a recent Saturday and none crossed on the following Sunday. Before the war, more than 130 ships crossed the waterway each day.

The drop in traffic has added to uncertainty for shipping companies and crews using the strategic waterway.

Iran has continued to restrict shipping through the strait, while the United States has maintained pressure on Tehran.

The crisis has also left more than 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Gulf, according to the supplied information. Some crews have described conditions aboard vessels as being like “in prison”.

One Indian tanker captain recently said he spent 75 days stranded in the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew members and 110,000 tonnes of oil on board. He described the stress of staying in a conflict zone while missiles were flying overhead.

Union calls for stronger protection

FSUI says advisories and safety guidelines alone cannot adequately protect civilian crews working in conflict-affected waters.

The union has called for an assured naval presence to protect Indian seafarers and commercial ships.

FSUI had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the urgent deployment of the Indian Navy to protect Indian crews.

Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal also instructed the Director General Maritime Administration (DGMA) to take immediate steps with relevant agencies to improve the security of Indian seafarers in the region and provide assistance to rescued crew members.

Indian seafarers make up about 12.2% of the global seafaring workforce, according to the supplied information. That makes the safety of Indian crews a significant concern as commercial ships continue to operate on international routes.

References: news18, firstpost