3 ships with Indian crew hit amid W Asia conflict

Three foreign-flagged ships carrying Indian crew members were caught in the West Asia conflict and attacked on September 8 and 9, according to a report by the Maritime Administration. The crews were all accounted for, with no fatalities reported.

On September 8, a Zimbabwe-flagged crude oil tanker named Riesco was struck by US naval forces in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel had 21 Indian crew members aboard, who had safely abandoned ship prior to the attack and sought shelter at an Iranian port. Similarly, a Palau-flagged LPG carrier named Horizon 1 was hit on September 8 at Khor Fakkan OPL, with 16 crew members - 14 Indian and two Georgian nationals - rescued by a nearby vessel and accounted for.

On September 9, a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker named Mersin Prosperity was reportedly hit near Fujairah by a projectile. The ship had seven Indian crew members on board, who were also safe and accounted for.

As of the report, six Indian-flagged vessels and eight foreign-flagged vessels of Indian interest are currently in the Persian Gulf, with a combined total of 173 Indian seafarers onboard. Ten vessels of Indian interest remain in the Persian Gulf, and have been flagged for evacuation. Since the beginning of the West Asia war, there have been a total of 10 incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels and 50 incidents involving foreign-flagged vessels with Indian crew members. Nine seafarers have been killed, 12 injured, and one presumed deceased in these incidents.