Oman Evacuates Injured Crew from Tanker Attack in Strait of Hormuz

India’s Foreign Ministry reported that 11 out of 12 injured crew members on board the On Peace are Indian nationals. Oman’s air force evacuated 10 crew members of a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker following an attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The On Peace tanker was struck 9 nautical miles (about 17 km) off the Omani port city of Limah on Tuesday, according to the Omani Ministry of Defence. The attack resulted in a fire on board the vessel. The ministry stated that the crew members were transported to Khasab hospital in Musandam governorate for medical treatment. This incident occurs amid deteriorating security in the Strait of Hormuz, linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran. India’s Ministry of External Affairs indicated that at least 12 of the ship’s 19 crew members were injured when a projectile hit the vessel while it was transiting the strait. Seventeen of the 19 crew members were Indian nationals, including 11 of the injured. The ministry expressed concern over the continuing attacks on shipping in the region and reiterated the call for an immediate cessation of such incidents to promote peace and stability. India is a major contributor of sailors to global merchant shipping. The Indian government reported in July that at least 10 Indian seafarers had been killed since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in late February. Another attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz in September also resulted in the death of an Indian sailor. Iran has effectively closed the waterway since the conflict began on February 28, frequently attacking commercial vessels that do not adhere to its designated routes and seeking to charge ships for passage. At least seven other incidents involving tankers have been reported in the past week, according to Marisks, a shipping intelligence service. Despite these attacks, oil exports from the Middle East have risen to pre-war levels in recent weeks. The seven-day moving average of Middle East crude exports reached 18.3 million barrels per day (bpd) on September 30, compared to about 18 million bpd on average in the 12 months prior to the conflict, according to provisional data from Kpler, a data firm. However, prices remain elevated, with Brent crude futures rising to $101.51 a barrel on Tuesday, up from $72.48 the day before the conflict began.