173 Indian Seafarers Stranded In Persian Gulf As Three More Vessels Are Attacked
Fresh vessel attacks leave 173 Indian seafarers stranded.
Three foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian nationals came under attack in separate incidents in West Asia within 24 hours, raising fresh concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers in the region. According to a Directorate of Maritime Administration report, 173 Indian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf. The latest incidents occurred on September 8 and 9, although no casualties were reported in any of the three attacks.
The Zimbabwe-flagged tanker Riesco, Palau-flagged gas carrier Horizon 1 and Liberia-flagged tanker Mersin Prosperity were involved in the separate incidents. US naval forces were identified as responsible for the strike on Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, while Horizon 1 and Mersin Prosperity were attacked near Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, respectively. The 21-member Indian crew of Riesco had already been moved to safety at an Iranian port before the vessel was struck.
The 16-member crew of Horizon 1 included 14 Indians and two Georgian nationals and was rescued by a passing vessel following the attack. Mersin Prosperity, meanwhile, was carrying seven Indian seafarers when it was hit, with no injuries reported. The incidents add to the growing security concerns surrounding commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz amid the continuing West Asia conflict.
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The maritime administration report said 14 vessels linked to Indian interests — six Indian-flagged and eight foreign-flagged — were located in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz, with a combined crew of 173 Indians. Ten of these vessels have been identified for possible evacuation because of the prevailing security situation. Overall, the conflict has so far involved four incidents affecting Indian-flagged vessels and 50 incidents involving foreign-flagged ships carrying Indian crew, according to the reported figures.
The incidents have also raised the issue of safe navigation through one of the world's key maritime routes. The safety of Indian seafarers and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz were discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi. Pezeshkian arrived in India on September 11 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India.
During the meeting, Modi reiterated India's commitment to pursuing lasting peace in the region and discussed strengthening India-Iran relations on a long-term and mutually beneficial basis. The latest attacks have added urgency to efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels and maintain the movement of ships through the strategically important Gulf region.
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