Key Highlights Two foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew were reportedly attacked on September 17. Panama-flagged crude oil tanker M.T. Basrah Energy was hit by a projectile. The vessel was sailing eastbound outside the Strait of Hormuz. It arrived safely at Fujairah anchorage. The tanker had 22 crew members, including 14 Indians. Togo-flagged oil product tanker Trend was reportedly attacked by a drone near Khasab Port. Details about the second incident were initially limited. Authorities continued monitoring vessels of Indian interest in the Persian Gulf. What Happened to M.T. Basrah Energy? The Panama-flagged crude oil tanker M.T. Basrah Energy was reportedly hit by a projectile in the funnel area while sailing eastbound just outside the Strait of Hormuz on September 17. According to the Directorate of Maritime Administration report cited by Hindustan Times, the vessel did not suffer significant damage and all crew members were reported safe. The tanker later arrived at Fujairah anchorage with 22 crew members onboard, including 14 Indian nationals. The incident was reported amid heightened security concerns affecting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Were the Indian Crew Members Safe? All crew members aboard M.T. Basrah Energy were reported safe following the projectile incident. The vessel had 22 people onboard, including 14 Indian nationals. Despite being hit in the funnel area, the tanker was able to reach Fujairah anchorage without significant damage being reported. The incident was particularly significant for Indian maritime authorities because several vessels carrying Indian seafarers were operating in the Persian Gulf and west of the Strait of Hormuz at the time. What Happened to the Trend Tanker? Another vessel, the Togo-flagged oil product tanker Trend, was reportedly attacked by a drone near Khasab Port in Oman on the same day. At the time of the initial report, further details about the incident were awaited. Authorities were continuing to monitor the situation and assess the safety of vessels operating in the area. The two incidents involving foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew added to concerns about the security of commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz.(READ MORE : Strait of Hormuz Drone Attack: LPG Tanker M.T. Al Maryah With 9 Indian Crew Members Hit, All Safe) How Many Indian Seafarers Were in the Persian Gulf? At the time of the September 17 incidents, six Indian-flagged vessels and eight foreign-flagged vessels of Indian interest were reported to be in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz. Together, these vessels had 153 Indian seafarers onboard. Authorities had also identified 10 vessels of Indian interest for evacuation from the area. The developments highlighted the risks faced by merchant vessels and their crews while operating in a region experiencing continuing maritime security concerns. Why Is the Strait of Hormuz Important? The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's key maritime routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Large numbers of commercial vessels carrying energy and other cargo pass through the wider region. Any security incident involving merchant shipping can therefore create concerns for vessel operators, crew members and international trade. The International Maritime Organization has separately documented numerous confirmed maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East region during the ongoing security situation. What Is the Current Situation for Indian Vessels? Indian maritime authorities have continued monitoring Indian-flagged vessels as well as foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew. The M.T. Basrah Energy incident was followed by further reported incidents involving commercial vessels, including the September 20 drone incident involving M.T. Al Maryah. The latest developments have kept the safety of Indian seafarers and the movement of commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf under close observation. Timeline of the Strait of Hormuz Vessel Attacks September 17, 2026: M.T. Basrah Energy was reportedly hit by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz. September 17: The tanker reached Fujairah anchorage with 22 crew members, including 14 Indians. September 17: Togo-flagged tanker Trend was reportedly attacked by a drone near Khasab Port in Oman. September 18: Reports emerged about the two attacks and the continued monitoring of vessels carrying Indian crew. September 20: Liberia-flagged LPG tanker M.T. Al Maryah was reportedly hit by a drone outside the Strait of Hormuz. September 21: Authorities confirmed that all 19 crew members aboard M.T. Al Maryah, including nine Indians, were safe
