Dubai-bound tanker hit in Gulf; Indians injured

A Dubai-bound oil tanker carrying six Indian seafarers was hit by a projectile while transiting the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, leaving four crew members injured, including one Indian national, the government said on Wednesday.Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal identified the vessel as the Liberian-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) MT Fujairah Energy, which was travelling from Al Ruwais to Dubai."The remaining 18 crew members, including five other Indian seafarers, are safe and accounted for," Sonowal said on X.— sarbanandsonwal (@sarbanandsonwal) He even added that the government was in contact with the ship management company to ensure medical assistance and the safety of the affected seafarers."We are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in close contact with the ship management company to ensure the ongoing security, medical care and wellbeing of our seafarers," he wrote on X.The incident adds to concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters, where vessels have faced repeated attacks.Last month, a Panama-flagged tanker, MT Louise 1, carrying 27 Indian seafarers was hit by limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire. The incident occurred 25 nautical miles (46 km) northeast of Oman's Khasab. The government subsequently confirmed that all Indian crew members were safe.Shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have faced disruptions and attacks since the Iran-US war began in February 2026.According to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 37 ships were attacked in October, the highest monthly total since the conflict began. US forces are also continuing to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports, adding to tensions in the region.