27 Indian Sailors Escape Limpet Mine Attack Near Oman
27 Indian seafarers escaped unharmed after their tanker was targeted by limpet mines near Oman in the Strait of Hormuz. All crew members are safe.
Twenty-seven Indian seafarers narrowly escaped injury after their vessel was targeted by limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The attack, which took place on October 30, involved the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, MT Louise 1.
Attack Details and Crew Response
The incident occurred approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. According to reports, a small craft approached the tanker and attached two magnetic explosives to the vessel's hull. The subsequent detonation triggered a fire within the engine room.
The crew acted decisively to extinguish the flames, preventing the fire from spreading further. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has since confirmed that all crew members are safe and that the explosion caused no environmental damage. Following the incident, the tanker has resumed its voyage.
Government Confirms Safety of Seafarers
Indian Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the safety of the crew via social media. In his update, the Minister also addressed a separate maritime incident that occurred on October 29, involving the Liberia-flagged VLCC MT Arzanah, which was hit by a projectile attack.
The MT Arzanah incident involved two Indian nationals. In total, all 29 Indian seafarers involved across these two recent maritime attacks are reported to be safe. The Indian government is currently coordinating with ship management companies to closely monitor the ongoing situation.
Escalating Maritime Security Threats
While no specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the MT Louise 1, some reports, including those from The Financial Times, have implicated Tehran. This event follows a failed attempt to use limpet mines in September, marking a significant escalation in the security risks facing shipping lanes in the region.
Maritime security group Marisks highlighted the growing danger posed by these tactics, describing the use of limpet mines as a
"low tech" but efficient tactic that threatens congested shipping lanes.
The broader conflict in the region, which intensified in February following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has already resulted in significant casualties. To date, 22 Indian nationals, including 14 seafarers, have lost their lives due to the ongoing instability in these waters.