Video Captures Moment Safesea Vishnu Tanker Erupts In Flames In Gulf Attack

Last Updated:March 12, 2026, 22:30 IST

Two fuel tankers were attacked near Iraqi waters, killing one Indian sailor and damaging ships.

Two fuel tankers were attacked near Iraqi waters late on Wednesday, leaving one crew member dead and several ships damaged across the Gulf amid rising regional tensions.

According to Iraqi port officials, explosive-laden boats believed to be linked to Iran struck the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and Zefyros. Both vessels had recently loaded fuel cargo in Iraq. The attacks set the ships ablaze and forced rescue teams to launch emergency operations.

A port security official said the body of a foreign crew member was recovered from the water as search teams continued efforts to locate missing sailors. Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of Iraq’s state-run General Company for Ports, said 25 crew members were rescued from the two burning vessels. However, fires were still burning on both ships at the time of the rescue.

India’s embassy in Baghdad confirmed that an Indian sailor working on a US-owned oil tanker was killed in the attack near Basra. The embassy said the remaining 15 Indian crew members aboard the Safesea Vishnu were evacuated safely and taken to a secure location.

A video going viral on internet shows a bright fireball erupts on the water, lighting up the surrounding darkness. Flames and thick smoke rise from the vessel, reflecting on the surface of the sea. The explosion seems powerful, with fire spreading across part of the ship and nearby water.

In a statement posted on X, the embassy said it was in regular contact with the rescued sailors and Iraqi authorities while providing all possible assistance.

Following the attacks, Iraqi authorities suspended operations at oil ports as a precaution, although commercial ports across the country continued functioning.

Officials described the incident as sabotage and said the attack represented a serious violation of Iraq’s sovereignty because it occurred within the country’s territorial waters.

The tanker attack was part of a wider series of incidents involving commercial vessels in Gulf waters. Several ships were reportedly struck by projectiles in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said an unidentified projectile hit a container ship early on Thursday about 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, causing a small fire. The crew were reported safe.

Another vessel, the Thai-flagged dry bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, was struck by two projectiles while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. The attack caused a fire and damaged the engine room. Its operator, Precious Shipping, said three crew members were missing and believed to be trapped inside the engine room, while the remaining 20 crew members were evacuated and brought safely ashore in Oman.

Images shared by Thai media showed rescued sailors after they were picked up by Oman’s navy.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later said the vessel had been “fired upon by Iranian fighters", indicating what could be the first direct engagement by the force in the current escalation.

Other vessels were also damaged in separate incidents. The Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty sustained minor damage after being struck by a projectile about 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al-Khaimah in the UAE.

The ship’s owner, Mitsui OSK Lines, said the vessel had been anchored when it was hit. An inspection found limited damage above the waterline and the ship remained seaworthy.

Another vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, was also hit by a projectile around 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai. Maritime risk firm Vanguard said the hull was damaged, though there were no injuries among the crew.

The attacks come amid rising tensions in the region after Iran blocked oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes. Reports citing unnamed sources said Iran had deployed around a dozen mines in the strait.

US President Donald Trump said American forces had struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels and warned Tehran of severe consequences if mines were placed in the key waterway.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has also warned that ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could become targets, raising concerns about the safety of global shipping and energy supplies.

News world Video Captures Moment Safesea Vishnu Tanker Erupts In Flames In Gulf Attack

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