Indian Seafarers Pay the Price: 23 Dead as Hormuz Attacks Escalate
A 26-year-old wiper from Uttar Pradesh is the latest victim as the Strait of Hormuz sees its 85th attack since the war.
The attack, the 85th since the war began, has reignited calls for urgent action to protect civilian crews navigating one of the world’s most dangerous maritime chokepoints.
Forward Seamen’s Union’s Union of India (FSU) confirmed the death of Suraj Yadav, a wiper from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, who was working aboard the 170,000 dwt bulker when it was hit. The vessel, registered in Antigua & Barbuda and carrying a crew of 28, 20 of them Indian nationals, was targeted 2.5 nautical miles from Oman’s Musandam Governorate. One projectile struck the engine room, while another hit C Deck of the accommodation block, where Yadav was reportedly working.
The Royal Oman Navy evacuated the crew, confirming one fatality and rescuing the remaining 27. The Oman Maritime Security Center reported that the vessel was left adrift and on fire following the attack.
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), 85 confirmed attacks have occurred since the war’s onset, with 23 seafarers killed before September 23. The IMO’s Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, last week urged member states to take collective action to safeguard maritime security, a plea echoed by Thomas Kazakos, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), during his address to the United Nations Security Council.
The FSU has been vocal in its criticism of the lack of concrete measures to protect seafarers. In a statement, the union declared,
“Assurances mean nothing. Innocent civilian seafarers keep being killed and reported missing in Hormuz.”
Forward Seamen’s Union·Union representing Indian seafarers
Demands for Action Grow Louder: Indian Seafarers
The FSU is not mincing words in its demands. The union has called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deploy a naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, and Black Sea to escort Indian crews on both Indian- and foreign-flagged vessels. It has also urged the establishment of safe-passage protocols, including coordination with Oman, to ensure the safety of seafarers transiting the region. Additionally, the FSU is pushing for enhanced tracing efforts to locate missing seafarers, many of whom remain unaccounted for in the chaos of the conflict.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the United Nations, threatened to “annihilate” Iran unless a deal is reached, while also acknowledging that mediation efforts were underway. However, he predicted the war would not conclude until after the U.S. elections in November. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have suggested that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if the U.S. eases military pressure and lifts its blockade.
U.S. Central Command reported that as of September 21, American forces had redirected 110 commercial vessels to ensure compliance with the blockade. The number of vessels transiting the strait remains difficult to track, as many have turned off their AIS transmissions to avoid detection. However, data analytics firm Kpler reported a surge in activity at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura and Juaymah terminals, with six VLCCs loading nearly 12 million barrels of crude on September 21, the busiest day since the war began. The FSU’s call for action is clear:
“Seafarers are the Heartbeat of the Ocean. Stop Killing Them.”
Forward Seamen’s Union·Union representing Indian seafarers
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