After a drone strike close to Oman, an Indian cargo ship sinks; Delhi describes the operation as abhorrent.

14 Indian crew members of the Gujarati cargo ship Haji Ali were successfully evacuated by Omani authorities after the ship capsized off the coast of Oman due to a suspected drone strike. Amid growing tensions related to the Iran-US confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz, the event has raised concerns about marine security in the area.

The tragedy happened early on Wednesday while the ship, registered at Salaya Port in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, was heading from Somalia to Sharjah with animals.

Around 3:30 in the morning, the ship was reportedly cruising close to Limah, off the northern coast of Oman, when it was hit by an unidentified explosive item that may have been a drone or missile. The ship lost stability and eventually sank into the ocean as a result of the impact, which started a fire on board. Following the strike, the team moved swiftly. The 14 seamen, including one tandel and thirteen crew members, sent out a distress call and boarded lifeboats as the ship caught fire.

After initiating a rescue mission, the Oman Coast Guard successfully transported every crew member to the port of Deeba. Sultan Ahmed Sanghar, the ship’s owner, subsequently attested to everyone’s safety.

It is not immediately known who carried out the strike on the vessel on Wednesday, but the Ministry of External Affairs described the attack as “unacceptable”.

“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” it said.

Several livestock animals being transported on the vessel were reportedly washed away after the ship sank into the sea. The MEA confirmed that all 14 Indian sailors rescued from the sunken vessel were safe. “All Indian crew on board are safe, and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them,” it said.

Additionally, the ministry emphasized that attacks on commercial vessels and activities that endanger innocent crew members or impede freedom of navigation and marine trade should be avoided. The strike’s perpetrator was not named in the MEA statement, and Omani authorities are looking into the event. According to the Indian Sailing Vessels Association, all sailors were secure and their paperwork was in order.

General Secretary Adam Bhaya called on the Indian government to expedite the crew’s return as soon as possible and step up diplomatic efforts to guarantee their safe return. In less than a week, the sinking of Haji Ali is the second such occurrence involving a vessel connected to Gujarat.

Al Faiz Noor Suleimani-1, another Salaya ship, is said to have sunk in the Strait of Hormuz earlier after getting caught in crossfire connected to the ongoing regional crisis. Ship operators and dealers in Gujarat’s traditional marine sector, many of whom depend on routes through the Gulf for cargo shipping, are alarmed by the two occurrences.  As regional hostilities continue to threaten one of the busiest shipping corridors in the world, the consecutive occurrences highlight the growing risks for commercial vessels traveling through the Gulf and Arabian Sea.