3 Indians safe after tanker attack scare in Hormuz

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Three Indian crew members aboard the Saudi-flagged oil tanker NCC FAJR are reported safe after a possible attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The incident comes amid heightened maritime security risks and competing claims about mines and tanker fires in the strait, a critical route for global oil shipments.

Three seafarers from India working on a Saudi Arabia-flagged oil tanker are safe following an attack against the ship in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, Waterways and Fisheries, Sarbananda Sonowal.The ship that was identified as NCC FAJR was said to be part of the alleged attack while sailing through the strategic water passage.In his post on the social media platform X, Sonowal said that the government has been continuously keeping in touch with the ship management firm to ensure the safety of the Indian seafarers.— sarbanandsonwal (@sarbanandsonwal) "On Nov 11, Saudi Arabia-flagged oil tanker NCC FAJR, carrying 3 Indian seafarers, was involved in a possible attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. All 3 Indian nationals, along with the entire crew, are safe," he said.Sonowal mentioned that the government has taken necessary measures to stay abreast of the situation, and the security of the crew members is their primary concern."We are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in regular contact with the ship management company to ensure the ongoing security and wellbeing of our seafarers," he added.The Strait of Hormuz is an internationally important water passage joining the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. This strait is a vital transit point for oil shipments in the world.Iran reports oil tanker fire after alleged naval mine strikeIn a separate report, however, Iran’s military claimed that a ship carrying oil had been hit by a naval mine and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz. As quoted in a statement from Iranian state television, the incident took place in the eastern part of the strait, which is considered an unsafe and prohibited zone."An early morning today, an oil tanker violating this strait ignited because of hitting a naval mine in an unsafe and prohibited zone in the east of the Strait of Hormuz," Iran’s armed forces navy announced.The recent allegation was made amid the ongoing closure of marine navigation in the strategic water route as a result of the Middle East war that started in late February.The Trump administration has reacted by launching a naval blockade of the ports of Iran and assisting with the passage of the commercial tankers through the strait. American forces have also recently declared that all mines were cleared out of the Strait of Hormuz.Iran has issued several statements in the last few weeks concerning ships catching fire in the area, usually blaming it on the mines laid in the strait. IRGC, the revolutionary wing of Iran's military, has also reported on Tuesday that three other oil tankers caught fire in the strait.Strait of Hormuz remains crucial to global oil suppliesThe Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and acts as one of the busiest shipping channels in the world.In pre-war times, roughly one out of every five barrels of crude oil in the world transits through the strait. Consequently, anything that interferes with its operations becomes a matter of global concern in terms of energy markets and shipping.The United States has continued to escort ships through the waters in light of growing tensions.According to the US Central Command, in the previous month, it escorted shipments that led to the export of 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the summer season.The ongoing standoff has raised fears for the safety of commercial ships and sailors navigating the waters in the region.