A maritime incident involving the Gibraltar-flagged oil-products tanker Hercules Star has resulted in the death of one crew member and left another missing.
The incident occurred on September 10, 2026, approximately 24 nautical miles off the coast of Port Rashid, Dubai. Peninsula, the vessel's chartering company, confirmed the death on September 9 and stated that a specialist team is actively searching for the missing crew member. All other crew members have been accounted for.
While the exact cause of the incident remains under investigation, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported receiving information about a vessel listing and experiencing potential water ingress in the area. Maritime security sources cited by Reuters have suggested a possible drone strike, noting the presence of an unidentified projectile, though official confirmation regarding the cause is pending. The Hercules Star is an 8,000 DWT bunker-supply tanker, approximately 115 meters in length, deployed in 2022 to support marine-fuel supply operations in Fujairah.
Simultaneously, reports emerged of a separate drone strike on the tanker New Andros in Iraqi territorial waters, where all 22 crew members were reported safe. In response to increasing regional risks, the Indian Directorate General of Shipping maintains an enhanced safety advisory for Indian seafarers and shipping companies operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. The advisory mandates continuous vigilance, heightened situational awareness, and the maintenance of 24/7 emergency communication channels. The DG Shipping has further cautioned families and seafarers against relying on unverified social media reports regarding crew identities, nationalities, or incident details, urging them to prioritize information from official shipping companies and maritime authorities.
