New Delhi: Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said a drone attack on the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN at Sohar Anchorage left two Indian seafarers missing. Nine of the 11 Indian crew members were rescued and are safe, while search-and-rescue operations by the local Coast Guard are underway.
Sonowal said the government is coordinating with relevant authorities to locate the missing personnel and support rescue efforts. The Indian Embassy in Oman is also in close contact with local authorities.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday condemned attacks on two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region on October 11, calling for immediate de-escalation and a resolution to the ongoing conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE ⚠️On Oct 11, tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was subjected to 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.Search-and-rescue operations are actively underway by the local Coast Guard. We are continuously coordinating with all relevant authorities to fully support the ongoing rescue efforts and ensure every possible action is taken to safely locate our missing personnel.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) October 11, 2026
According to the MEA, MT PETRO DOLPHIN was struck by a drone, while MT VALTHERA, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, was hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire onboard. All 11 Indian seafarers aboard MT VALTHERA were reported safe.
The ministry said the Indian Embassy in Muscat was coordinating with Omani authorities and the respective ship management companies to assist the missing seafarers and provide support to the Indian crew.
“The safety and security of Indian seafarers remain a priority for the Government of India,” the MEA said, warning that repeated attacks on commercial shipping risk aggravating an already volatile situation. It called for attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure to cease, and stressed that freedom of navigation and the safe, unimpeded flow of maritime commerce through international waterways must be upheld in accordance with international law.
Statement on the attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region ⬇️🔗 https://t.co/SqBo213LvT https://t.co/t4zJMeZSdZ
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 11, 2026
In a separate update, Sonowal said all 11 Indian crew members aboard MT VALTHERA were safe following the October 11 incident.
The latest attacks come amid growing concerns over maritime security and the safety of seafarers in the Gulf region. On October 9, the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT GEM NO. 2, carrying 22 Indian nationals, was subjected to a drone attack at Sharjah Anchorage. Sonowal had said all 22 Indian seafarers aboard the vessel were safe.
India has also called for stronger international cooperation to protect commercial shipping and seafarers. The Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, launched by India and Liberia on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, aims to strengthen coordination among maritime stakeholders and place seafarers’ safety at the centre of global discussions.
(With inputs from agencies)
