New Delhi, Oct. 6 (SANA) India said Tuesday that 12 crew members of the Panama-flagged commercial vessel MT On Peace were injured after the ship was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, with the injured evacuated for medical treatment in Khasab.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the vessel had 19 crew members, including 17 Indian nationals. Of those injured, 11 were Indians, and all 12 were evacuated with assistance from Omani authorities and are receiving medical treatment in Khasab, Oman.
India condemned the attack and expressed deep concern over continued attacks on shipping in the region.
“We reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the interests of peace and stability in the region,” the ministry said, adding that attacks targeting commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure must end and navigation and commerce through international waterways be restored as soon as possible.
India said last month that an Indian sailor was killed in an attack on a cargo ship off the Omani coast.
India is one of the world’s largest contributors of seafarers to merchant shipping, and the safety of Indian crew members has become an increasing concern amid attacks affecting commercial navigation in regional waterways.
India condemns Black Sea ship attack
In a separate statement, the Indian ministry condemned an attack on the MV Roid Mamadov in the Black Sea that killed two foreign seafarers and injured several crew members, including Indians.
The ministry said Romanian authorities rescued the injured, who are receiving medical treatment, and confirmed that the three Indian nationals aboard the vessel were safe.
It said attacks on shipping through international waterways undermine global trade and renewed its call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve ongoing conflicts.
The ministry also noted that India and Liberia launched the Friends of the Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers group on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September.
The group comprises 25 countries and aims to help ensure the safety and security of commercial shipping and seafarers in the face of targeted attacks.
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