Tanker with 21 Indian sailors struck in Strait of Hormuz

All crew members of the MT Al Dasma are safe after the vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile

A Kuwait-flagged tanker carrying 21 Indian seafarers was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the second time the ship was attacked in less than two months. All crew members were reported to be safe following the attack.

The oil-products tanker MT Al Dasma was hit about 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman, sparking a fire that was later extinguished. The vessel remained stationary following the strike, according to maritime security reports.

India is monitoring the situation and remains in contact with the ship’s management company to ensure the crew’s safety, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday.
“All 21 of our Indian crew members, along with the rest of the crew are completely safe,” Sonowal posted on X.

⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE ⚠️ On Oct 21, Kuwait-flagged oil product tanker M/T AL DASMA, carrying 21 Indian seafarers, was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. All 21 of our Indian crew members, along with the rest of the crew are completely safe. We are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in close contact with the ship management company to ensure the ongoing security and wellbeing of our seafarers.

— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) October 21, 2026

The tanker was previously attacked on September 7, southeast of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The vessel was damaged in both incidents, with no pollution reported.

Indian crews have been caught in several recent attacks on commercial ships in the Middle East. On October 16, the tanker MT ST 3, carrying 15 Indian seafarers, was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. All crew members were reported safe.
Five days earlier, two Indian sailors were reported missing after the tanker MT Petro Dolphin was struck near Oman. Another tanker, MT Valthera, was hit the same day, but all 11 Indian seafarers aboard were unharmed.

The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao also sank near the strait on October 14, weeks after an attack killed an Indian seafarer.

The IMO had recorded 119 confirmed maritime incidents and 24 seafarer deaths across the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East as of October 21.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Thursday that four vessels allegedly involved in illegal oil transfers were struck and caught fire in the northern Persian Gulf on Wednesday.

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Three more vessels struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC claimed, warning that continued US military provocations could trigger a wider response against American bases in the region, Reuters reported. The Iranian statement did not identify Al Dasma or establish a connection to its attack.

New Delhi previously condemned the recurring attacks on commercial shipping and called for immediate de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.

“Attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure must cease,” India’s Foreign Ministry said on October 11, stressing the need to protect freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce.