768 Indian Seafarers Stranded After Fatal Maritime Strike Near Oman
A major maritime crisis has emerged in the Gulf as 768 Indian seafarers are stranded on 28 Indian-flagged tankers and cargo ships. The situation follows a lethal attack off the coast of Oman, which has triggered a suspension of commercial maritime traffic in the area.
Tragedy Strikes MV Cape Dao
The incident unfolded on September 23 when the MV Cape Dao, an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged vessel, was struck twice near the Musandam coast. The ship was traveling from Mina Saqr in the UAE to India when the strikes caused severe damage to the engine room and accommodation deck, resulting in a fire.
Out of the 28 crew members on board, 20 were Indian nationals. Tragically, 26-year-old Suraj Yadav, a wiper from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, died from a fatal head injury sustained during the attack. While the Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescued the remaining 19 Indian crew members, the strike has left many other vessels in limbo.
Resource Shortages and Insurance Freezes
The 768 crew members currently stuck on the 28 affected vessels are facing increasingly difficult conditions. Many of these ships are reportedly running low on essential supplies, including drinking water and fuel. These shortages are being compounded by insurance freezes and precautionary measures implemented by ship owners in response to the regional instability.
Indian Seafarers in the Gulf Region
The scale of the crisis is underscored by the high number of Indian maritime workers currently operating in the region. Data from the Directorate General of Shipping shows that approximately 23,000 Indian seafarers are currently in Gulf waters and ports:
- UAE: 12,830
- Saudi Arabia: 3,131
- Qatar: 2,372
- Oman: 1,687
- Bahrain: 276
Although 215 seafarers have been evacuated from Bahrain and Muscat, the hundreds of crew members on the 28 ships in question remain aboard their vessels.
Calls for Naval Protection and Compensation
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has petitioned the Prime Minister’s Office to address the growing danger to civilian crews. The union is demanding several immediate actions, including:
- Compensation for the family of the deceased, Suraj Yadav.
- The creation of a 24/7 crisis management cell.
- Enhanced naval protection for merchant ships operating near the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.
The Ministry of External Affairs has characterized the attack as “deeply worrisome,” while expressing appreciation to the Omani authorities for their rescue efforts.
Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has committed to ensuring that the remains of Suraj Yadav are returned to his family with dignity. As families and recruitment agencies demand urgent intervention, the safety of merchant crews remains a primary concern following previous reports of missing or killed seafarers in the region.