Hormuz tanker fire: 21 Indian seafarers safe after projectile strike
Kuwait-flagged M/T AL Dasma caught fire 11 nautical miles west of Bukha after unidentified attack on October 21.
A Kuwait-flagged oil product tanker, the M/T AL Dasma, was hit by an unidentified projectile on October 21 while sailing 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman, near the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel caught fire immediately after the attack, though specialized teams later controlled the blaze. The full extent of the damage remains unknown, and the ship is currently unable to continue its voyage.
All 21 Indian seafarers on board were safely evacuated, according to Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. In a post on X, Sonowal confirmed the crew’s safety, stating that the Indian government is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the ship’s management to ensure their well-being. The tanker may need to dock at a nearby port for inspection and repairs before resuming operations.
Kuwaiti tanker with 21 Indian crew struck in Strait of Hormuz
«We are continuously monitoring the situation and remain in close contact with the ship management company to ensure the ongoing security and wellbeing of our seafarers.»
Sarbananda Sonowal·Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier in October, three other ships, the Panama-flagged MT On Peace, the MT Petro Dolphin, and the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera, were targeted by drones or projectiles in the same region. On October 16, the crude oil tanker MT ST3, carrying 15 Indian crew members, was also struck.
Brent Crude
Rising tensions and repeated attacks in critical waterway
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the attacks and called for urgent de-escalation to protect freedom of navigation in international waters. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments, has become a flashpoint amid heightened regional tensions.
Iran has warned shipping companies against using unauthorized routes or accepting U.S. assistance while crossing the strait, suggesting such vessels could face action from the Iranian navy. The U.S., however, maintains that the strait is an international waterway open to all nations and continues to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports in the Gulf. These opposing positions have further strained maritime security in the area.
Sign up free to ask CAMAL AI for a summary, the key points or anything else about this story.
Related stories
CAMAL AI
Financial Ports Newsletter
The maritime economy, every morning
Ports, shipping and freight markets in one short email. Free.
