LPG Tanker Carrying 9 Indian Seafarers Hit By Drone Near Strait Of Hormuz

A Liberia-flagged LPG tanker with nine Indian seafarers on board was hit by a drone while sailing eastbound outside the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, Sept. 20, according to a report prepared by the Directorate of Maritime Administration.

The M.T. Al Maryah suffered no major damage. Its power and main engine remain operational.

All 19 crew members on board were confirmed safe, including the nine Indian nationals.

The tanker is now safely anchored at Khor Fakkan, according to the report.

Authorities are continuing to monitor commercial vessels and Indian seafarers in the region. Several vessels in the area have also been identified for evacuation.

The maritime administration report said six Indian-flagged vessels and seven foreign-flagged vessels of Indian interest were in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz.

A total of 145 Indian seafarers were on board these vessels.

Authorities have also identified nine vessels of Indian interest in the area for evacuation. They include Indian-flagged vessels and foreign-flagged vessels bound for India.

Seven of the vessels are carrying fertilizer cargo. The other two vessels are carrying other cargoes.

So far, four incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels and 58 incidents involving foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew have been reported, according to the Directorate of Maritime Administration.

These incidents have resulted in 10 confirmed deaths and 12 injuries. One more death is presumed.

Despite the reported drone strike on the M.T. Al Maryah, the report said there were no new operational safety or security incidents involving Indian vessels or Indian seafarers on Sunday.

About The Strait Of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

It is one of the world’s main routes for oil and gas shipments. About 20 million barrels of oil and oil products passed through it each day on average in 2025, equal to around 25% of global seaborne oil trade, according to the International Energy Agency.

However, shipping traffic through the strait has fallen sharply during the current conflict. Only 17 commodity vessels crossed the waterway over the weekend, compared with 37 the previous week and an average of 125 vessels a day before the war.

References: abplive, hindustantimes