Indian seafarers rescued after MT Kazimah III tanker struck in Strait of Hormuz

Five Indian seafarers have been safely rescued after their Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker, the MT Kazimah III, was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Indian embassy in Oman confirmed it co-ordinated the rescue operation to bring the five crew members safely ashore on Friday. Embassy officials publicly thanked Omani authorities for their swift support and assistance in carrying out the operation.

The attack in the strait

The MT Kazimah III was en route to the port of Lome in Togo when it was hit while transiting the strategic waterway. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime safety agency, the strike sparked a small fire and caused a temporary power blackout onboard the vessel.

The crew successfully extinguished the fire, and the ship was eventually able to resume its journey out of the strait. There were no casualties or environmental damage reported from the vessel.

It was not the only vessel targeted. Just hours later, a second crude oil tanker reported being struck by an unknown projectile east of Oman. The UKMTO confirmed that all crew members on the second vessel were also safe, and no environmental damage was detected.

Rising risks for Indian crews

The incident highlights the growing dangers for commercial shipping across Middle Eastern waterways, where vessels have faced repeated drone and missile strikes. India has been stepping up its efforts to monitor the safety of its citizens working in these high-risk maritime zones.

Earlier in the week, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that more than 4,500 Indian seafarers are currently working aboard various commercial vessels operating in the region.

Jaiswal noted that India is closely tracking 12 active cargo ships currently in the Persian Gulf. Six of these fly the Indian flag, while the other six are foreign-flagged vessels carrying cargo destined for India. Together, they carry about 163 Indian crew members.

"Our shipping ministry continues to monitor the movement of these ships and is looking at the well-being of all these seafarers," Jaiswal said during a media briefing, adding that Indian diplomatic missions are ready to step in whenever required.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also raised the issue of maritime safety during his recent address to the United Nations General Assembly. He called attacks on commercial shipping and civilian crews "completely unacceptable" after previous incidents in the Red Sea and Gulf took the lives of several seafarers.

Jaishankar confirmed that India has joined Liberia and 23 other partner nations in an international coalition aimed at defending commercial shipping routes and protecting crew members. He urged immediate restraint and de-escalation in regional waters to ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade and energy supplies.