India condemns attack on Indian-flagged ship off Oman coast, crew members safe

India today (14 May) condemned an attack on the Indian-flagged mechanised cargo dhow "Haji Ali" off the coast of Oman, calling the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian mariners "unacceptable" amid heightened tensions near the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel, travelling from Somalia to Sharjah in the UAE, came under attack in Omani waters early yesterday (13 May), causing a fire onboard before it eventually sank, Mukesh Mangal, additional secretary at India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, told reporters in New Delhi.

All 14 Indian crew members were rescued safely by the Omani Coast Guard and taken to Dibba Port in Oman, officials said, adding that they would be brought back to India soon.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said commercial shipping and civilian crew members should not be targeted.

"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," the ministry said in a statement.

"India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided," it added.

The incident occurred amid heightened military tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies.

The attack also came during the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi to New Delhi for the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting.

Mangal also said two LPG cargo ships carrying fuel for India had safely transited through the Hormuz Strait yesterday and today despite the tensions.

He said the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Symi, carrying 19,965 tonnes of LPG for Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), is expected to reach Kandla in Gujarat on 16 May, while the Vietnam-flagged NV Sunshine, carrying 46,427 tonnes of LPG, is expected to arrive in New Mangalore on 18 May.