Fatal Strike Off Oman Traps Indian Seafarers
A deadly maritime strike off the Musandam coast of Oman has left hundreds of Indian seafarers trapped, sparking widespread fear for thousands more currently navigating the Gulf waters.
Tragedy on the MV Cape Dao
The incident involved the Antigua-flagged vessel MV Cape Dao, which was en route from Mina Saqr in the UAE to India. The strike caused catastrophic damage to the ship's engine room and accommodation deck.
Tragically, 26-year-old Suraj Yadav, a wiper from the Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, lost his life due to a severe head injury sustained during the attack. While the Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescued the remaining 19 Indian crew members, Yadav's remains are still awaiting repatriation.
Hundreds Stranded, Thousands at Risk
The disruption has halted commercial shipping, leaving 768 Indian seafarers stranded aboard 28 Indian-flagged tankers and cargo vessels. The scale of the potential crisis is immense, as data from the Directorate General of Shipping reveals that 23,000 Indian seafarers are currently stationed in various Gulf ports and waters, including:
- 12,830 in the UAE
- 3,131 in Saudi Arabia
- 2,372 in Qatar
- 1,687 in Oman
- 276 in Bahrain
Growing Concerns Over Safety and Wages
While 215 individuals have been evacuated from Muscat and Bahrain, the majority of the workforce remains in place as commercial traffic stays suspended. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has raised urgent alarms regarding several critical issues:
- Widespread unpaid wages
- The risk of vessel abandonment
- The absence of established evacuation protocols
This incident comes amid a volatile period; official records show that 16 Indian citizens have died in the Middle East conflict this year, with ten of those being seafarers. This follows a long-