Ship Carrying 14 Indian Crew Members Attacked Off Oman Coast, 1 Missing

A commercial vessel carrying 14 Indian crew members was attacked off the coast of Oman on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.

Thirteen crew members have been rescued, while one Indian seafarer is still missing, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The vessel was identified as the Panama-flagged tanker MT El Gaia. The 13 rescued crew members have been taken ashore safely.

Omani authorities are continuing the search for the missing crew member.

The Indian Embassy in Oman said it was closely monitoring the search and rescue operation and was in contact with the Omani authorities.

It added that SAR operations for 13 Indians had been completed and they had been shifted ashore safely. The search for the remaining crew member is still underway.

The MEA also called for an immediate reduction in tensions in the region. It said dialogue and diplomacy were needed to restore peace.

India also called for free and safe navigation to be restored in the region, along with the safe movement of commercial traffic through international waterways.

Indian seafarers continue to face security risks in waters around the Middle East.

Several Indian vessels and ships carrying Indian crews have come under attack, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is an important maritime chokepoint.

Last month, the Indian-flagged commercial vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank in the Red Sea off Yemen. All 13 Indian nationals on board were rescued.

At the time, the MEA said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh was closely monitoring the situation and working with Yemeni authorities on the safety of the crew.

The issue of seafarer safety was also raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS Summit Business Forum in New Delhi earlier this week.

He added that India supports freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers.

Modi also proposed a “Seafarers’ Emergency Support Network” to help protect mariners facing security risks because of regional conflicts.

Indian seafarers make up more than 12% of the global merchant shipping workforce. India has almost 312,000 seafarers out of a global total of about 2.57 million, making Indian nationals the second-largest group after the Philippines.

References: NDTV, Firstpost