On Thursday, 18 September 2026, two foreign-flagged tankers carrying Indian crew members were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Directorate of Maritime Administration, as reported by Hindustan Times and Business Standard, several important events took place during this incident.
- The Panama-flagged crude tanker MT Basrah Energy was struck by a projectile.
- The Togo-flagged product tanker Trend was hit by a drone.
- Indian government prohibited fresh deployment of Indian seafarers on routes involving Hormuz transits.
The Panama-flagged crude tanker MT Basrah Energy was struck by a projectile in its funnel area while sailing eastbound.
The vessel sustained no major structural damage, and all 22 crew members, including 14 Indians, were reported safe as the ship arrived at the Fujairah anchorage. A second vessel, the Togo-flagged product tanker Trend, was hit by a drone near Khasab, Oman, with damage and injury reports still pending at the time of the incident.
Currently,
153 Indian seafarers remain on board six Indian-flagged ships and eight foreign-flagged vessels of Indian interest situated west of the Strait within the Persian Gulf. Ten of these vessels have been marked for evacuation. The International Maritime Organization has recorded approximately 80 attacks on merchant ships near the Strait since late February 2026, resulting in at least 22 fatalities.
The Indian government has prohibited the fresh deployment of Indian seafarers on routes involving Hormuz transits. Diplomatic missions in Oman and the UAE are actively monitoring the situation. The conflict, impacting regions including Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala, Kochi, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai, has disrupted the safety of trade routes, affecting personnel ranging from welders to officers. This report is based on briefings from the Directorate of Maritime Administration, Hindustan Times, Business Standard, UKMTO, and IMO statements provided between 17 and 18 September 2026.
