Two Indian sailors were reported missing after a drone attack struck a commercial tanker carrying 11 Indian crew members near the coast of Oman, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said. The Nicaragua-flagged vessel, MT Petro Dolphin, was attacked on October 11 while anchored near the port of Sohar in northern Oman. Nine Indian crew members were rescued and reported safe, while search-and-rescue operations continued to locate the two missing sailors. Sonowal confirmed the incident in a statement posted on social media platform X, saying the tanker had come under a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage. “While nine of our Indian crew members have been successfully rescued and are safe, two Indian nationals currently remain missing,” the minister said.

His statement established the status of the crew following the attack, although further details about the circumstances of the incident and the condition of the vessel were not immediately provided in the information available. According to the minister, the local coast guard was conducting search-and-rescue operations to find the missing Indian nationals. Indian authorities were also coordinating with the relevant agencies to support the ongoing response. Sonowal said the government was working with the authorities involved to ensure that all possible measures were taken to locate the sailors safely. The immediate priority remained the search operation and the welfare of the rescued crew members.

Further information about the missing sailors and the progress of the rescue effort was awaited. The incident comes amid security concerns affecting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The route is critical to international energy transportation, with oil and other cargoes moving through the region to markets around the world. Security incidents involving merchant vessels can disrupt shipping operations, increase risks for seafarers and raise concerns among shipowners, operators and governments. However, the precise circumstances behind the attack on MT Petro Dolphin, including the identity of those responsible and the type of drone used, were not established in the minister's statement.

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India has a significant presence in the global maritime workforce and supplies a large number of seafarers to commercial shipping companies. According to the shipping ministry figures cited in the report, India had more than 320,000 active seafarers in 2025. Indian sailors work aboard merchant vessels operating on international routes, including those carrying energy supplies and other essential cargo. Incidents involving Indian crew members overseas therefore require coordination between Indian authorities, local maritime agencies, vessel operators and other relevant organisations to support rescue efforts and provide assistance to affected personnel.

The attack on MT Petro Dolphin highlights the risks faced by merchant crews operating in regions where maritime security remains a concern. For now, the focus is on locating the two missing Indian sailors and ensuring the safety of the nine crew members who were rescued. Authorities had not provided further details in the minister's statement about the cause of the attack or when the search operation might conclude. Updates from the local coast guard and Indian officials are expected to clarify the status of the missing sailors and any additional action being taken following the incident.

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