- MT PETRO DOLPHIN tanker attacked by drone in Oman.
- Two Indian seafarers missing; ten crew members rescued.
- Coast Guard actively conducting search and rescue operations.
Nine Indian crew members have been rescued while two remain missing after the tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN was hit by a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage off the coast of Oman on Sunday. The vessel was carrying 11 Indian seafarers at the time of the incident.
Search-and-rescue operations are currently underway by the local Coast Guard for the missing seafarers.
Drone Attack on Tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN at Sohar Anchorage, Oman; Two Indian Seafarers Missing A total of 12 crew members, including 11 Indians, were on board; 10 were rescued safely, while the Coast Guard is searching for the missing seafarers. Oman/New Delhi, October 11, 2026: The Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN, which was awaiting berthing at Sohar Anchorage, Oman, was reportedly attacked by a drone. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 AM local time on October 11. Following the incident, two Indian seafarers are reported missing, while 10 crew members have been rescued safely. According to preliminary information received from the relevant sources, a total of 12 crew members were on board the tanker at the time of the incident. They comprised 11 Indian nationals and one Bangladeshi national. #MTPETRODOLPHIN #DroneAttack #Oman #SoharAnchorage #IndianSeafarers #MissingSeafarers #SeafarersSafety #MaritimeSecurity #TankerAttack #IndianCrew #CoastGuard #SearchAndRescue #ShippingNews #MaritimeNews #IndianMariners #DGMA #DGShipping #MarineSafety #BreakingNews #VoiceOfSea @dgshipping_IN @MEAIndia @sarbanandsonwal @Shantanu_bjp @PMOIndia @InSeaandshore
— Marine Tanks (Voice of Sea) (@MarineTanksInd) October 11, 2026
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In a post on X, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, "On Oct 11, tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was subjected to a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage. While nine of our Indian crew members have been successfully rescued and are safe, two Indian nationals currently remain missing."
He further added, "Search-and-rescue operations are actively underway by the local Coast Guard. We are continuously coordinating with all relevant authorities to fully support the ongoing rescue efforts and ensure every possible action is taken to safely locate our missing personnel."
Recent Attacks On Commercial Vessels
The strike on MT PETRO DOLPHIN follows a series of recent attacks on commercial vessels.
Earlier on Tuesday, a tanker caught fire in the Black Sea off Russia’s southern coast after it was reportedly attacked by Ukrainian naval drones. The vessel was carrying crude oil, and the fire sent thick black smoke into the sky near Sochi. Russia’s Transport Ministry said all 23 crew members, who were Indian nationals, were rescued safely.
This incident occurred after serious incident that took place on October 5, when the commercial cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov was reportedly hit by Russian drones while sailing through the Black Sea. The ship caught fire and later sank. Two foreign nationals were killed, while 11 crew members were rescued by Romanian authorities.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had confirmed that three Indian nationals, who were on the ship, were all safe. One Indian seafarer was injured and was taken to Constanța County Hospital in Romania and is reported to be in stable condition.
Together, these incidents highlight the growing threat posed by regional conflicts to commercial shipping and international crew members.
(With Inputs From PTI)
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