Two Tankers with Indian Crews Attacked Near Strait of Hormuz Leaving 153 Stranded
On Thursday, 17 September 2026, two foreign-flagged oil tankers with Indian crew members were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz and Oman’s Musandam coast. According to a Directorate of Maritime Administration report, as cited by the Hindustan Times and Business Standard on 18 September, the Panama-flagged crude tanker MT Basrah Energy was struck by a projectile in its funnel area while traveling eastbound. All 22 crew members, including 14 Indians, were reported safe, and the vessel subsequently reached Fujairah anchorage in the UAE. The second vessel, the Togo-flagged oil product tanker Trend, was reportedly targeted by a drone near Khasab Port in Oman. Further details regarding the incident on the Trend remain unavailable. Currently, 153 Indian seafarers remain west of the Strait of Hormuz aboard six Indian-flagged ships and eight foreign-flagged vessels of Indian interest, with 10 of these ships designated for evacuation. These incidents occur amidst an ongoing conflict in West Asia that has entered its seventh month, following earlier reports in 2026 of Indian casualties involving seafarers off the coasts of Oman and the UAE. While New Delhi has condemned attacks on civilian shipping, the strategic importance of the waterway for energy security continues to keep these vessels in the region.