Cargo Vessel With Indian Crew On Board Sends SOS Call After Suspected Attack Near Hormuz

Last Updated:June 08, 2026, 15:11 IST

Sources said the ship's lifeboats were also damaged during the incident, complicating evacuation efforts.

A commercial cargo vessel with at least 24 Indian crew members on board came under a suspected drone or missile attack off the coast of Oman near Starit of Hormuz on Monday, maritimes sources reported.

As per the preliminary information, the vessel, which was sailing under the Palau flag carrying 24 Indian crew members, was reportedly sailing around 15 nautical miles off the Omani coast when an explosion struck the ship, which ripped into the ship’s engine room, sparking a catastrophic inferno and sending a wave of panic through the maritime community.

According to initial reports, the blast ripped a critical hole in the vessel’s engine room, leading to rapid flooding and a loss of stability. The crew subsequently issued distress calls as the situation on board deteriorated.

The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) said the incident involved Indians on board and confirmed that some crew members were affected.

Indian seafarers who found themselves trapped in a literal floating furnace, were sending out desperate, breathless SOS messages as their ship rapidly took on water.

Sources said the ship’s lifeboats were also damaged during the incident, complicating evacuation efforts.

The incident came days after an Indian-flagged vessel was attacked off the coast of Oman, and subsequently sank. An Indian dhow, a mechanised sailing vessel, during its voyage from Somalia to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), reportedly encountered an incident in Omani waters in the early hours of Wednesday, May 13, which led to a fire onboard and subsequent sinking of the vessel.

All 14 crew members onboard were safely rescued by the Omani Coast Guard. The crew were reported to be safe, and necessary formalities with the local authorities were completed.

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Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre...Read More

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