An Indian sailor died on March 11 after attackers targeted a US-owned oil tanker near Basra in Iraq. The incident happened amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel in West Asia. The sailor served on the tanker MT Safesea Vishnu, which carried 16 Indian crew members. As a result, the conflict has now claimed the lives of three Indian sailors working on commercial vessels in the region.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Baghdad confirmed the attack on the tanker, which sails under the Marshall Islands flag. One Indian crew member died in the strike. However, authorities safely evacuated the remaining 15 Indian sailors. The embassy is currently in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and the rescued crew members. It also expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased sailor.
According to ship-tracking data, the vessel was near the Basrah Oil Terminal Anchorage in the Persian Gulf. The Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai said the attack occurred around 9 PM UTC on March 11. At the time, the tanker carried about 48,000 metric tonnes of naphtha. Preliminary reports suggest that an unmanned speedboat loaded with explosives struck the vessel. Furthermore, the tanker was conducting ship-to-ship cargo loading near Khor Al Zubair Port when the incident occurred.
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Indian Sailor Loses Life in Strike on US Oil Tanker Off Iraq Coast, Crew Evacuated
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Indian nationals have been affected by attacks on merchant vessels in the region. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said two Indians had died and one person remains missing in separate incidents. These attacks involved commercial ships operating in the conflict zone. Therefore, the government expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
At the same time, India criticised the targeting of commercial shipping during the conflict. New Delhi said such attacks threaten innocent sailors and disrupt global trade routes. Consequently, India supported a United Nations Security Council resolution that condemned the strikes and demanded an immediate end to the violence. Meanwhile, the Thai-flagged vessel Mayuree Naree was also hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, which caused a fire and damaged the engine room. Overall, India stressed that civilian ships and crew members must not become targets during military conflicts.
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