00:03A fresh attack on commercial tankers off Oman's coast has raised serious concerns over the safety
00:10of Indian seafarers and international shipping routes. Two Indian seafarers were reported missing
00:19after the Nicaraguan flagged tanker M.T. Petrodolphin was reportedly struck by a drone
00:25at Sohar Anchorage, Oman, on October 11. According to India's Union Minister for Ports,
00:32Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonawal, the tanker was carrying 11 Indian seafarers when
00:39the incident occurred. Nine Indian crew members were rescued safely, while two remained missing.
00:46Search and rescue operations were underway, with the local coast guard working to locate the missing
00:51sailors. The incident reportedly occurred at around 11.30 a.m. local time. The vessel was
00:58awaiting berthing at Sohar Anchorage when the attack took place. The circumstances surrounding the
01:04drone strike and the identity of those responsible were not immediately established. In a separate
01:10incident on the same day, the Marshall Islands flagged tanker M.T. Volthera was struck by an
01:17unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire on board. Union Minister Sarbananda
01:24Sonawal said all 11 Indian seafarers aboard M.T. Volthera were reported safe. He added that authorities
01:32were monitoring the situation and remained in contact with the ship management company to ensure the
01:38crew's safety and well-being. India's Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the attacks on
01:45commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region. In its official statement, the ministry confirmed
01:51that two Indian seafarers aboard M.T. Petro Dolphin were reported missing, while all 11 Indian crew members
01:59aboard M.T. Volthera were reported safe. The ministry said the Indian embassy in Oman was coordinating with
02:07Omani authorities and the respective ship management companies to support rescue operations and provide
02:12assistance to the affected Indian crew. India also warned that repeated attacks on commercial shipping
02:19could further aggravate an already volatile regional situation. The government reiterated that the safety
02:26and security of Indian seafarers remained a priority. It called for immediate de-escalation and urged all
02:34parties to resolve the ongoing conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. The ministry further stressed that
02:41attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers, and civilian infrastructure must cease. It also called for freedom of
02:49navigation and the safe and uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce through international waterways in accordance with
02:56international law. These latest incidents came amid mounting maritime security concerns in the region.
03:03A day earlier, on October 10, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly said an oil
03:10supertanker had struck a Mavel mine while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire and explosion.
03:17The vessel's identity was not disclosed in that report, and the account was attributed to Iranian sources.
03:24With multiple incidents involving commercial vessels reported within days, concerns are growing over
03:30maritime safety, disruptions to vital shipping corridors, and the potential consequences for global energy supplies and trade.
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