Five Indian Nationals Rescued After Tanker Struck in Strait of Hormuz
Five Indian nationals were safely evacuated from the Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker MT Kazimah III after the vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. According to The Hindu, the Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed the rescue operation on Saturday, noting that all five crew members were successfully shifted ashore with the assistance of Omani authorities.
According to The DeepDraft, the projectile strike on the MT Kazimah III brought the total number of maritime strike incidents involving tankers in the Strait of Hormuz to six vessels within a single week.
Maritime Security Concerns
The incident occurred as the vessel was en route to the port of Lome in Togo. While the embassy has not provided specific details regarding the origin of the projectile, the event highlights the ongoing security risks facing commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that it is closely monitoring the safety of Indian seafarers in the region, where more than 4,500 Indian nationals are currently employed on various commercial vessels.
The Ministry of External Affairs noted that active cargo ships in the area include 163 Indian seafarers across 12 vessels.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently addressed the United Nations General Assembly regarding the rising frequency of attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers across the Gulf, Red Sea, and Black Sea. New Delhi is part of a multinational alliance consisting of Liberia alongside 23 additional countries that pushes for the safeguarding of commercial shipping lanes and rigorous compliance with global rules to protect civilian personnel.
Under international humanitarian law, merchant seafarers generally maintain civilian status unless they engage directly in hostilities. Furthermore, international standards governing seafarers' employment conditions, health protections, and repatriation are established by the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006.