Baghdad

The Embassy of India in Baghdad on Thursday confirmed that an Indian crew member was killed after an international crude oil tanker was attacked near Basra in Iraq amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

In a post on X, the mission said the US-owned tanker Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, came under attack on March 11.

“One Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life,” the embassy said, adding that the remaining 15 Indian sailors had been evacuated to a safe location.

The embassy said it is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and the rescued crew members and is providing all possible assistance. It also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased seafarer.

Oil port operations suspended

The attack comes as the West Asia crisis enters its 13th day, with rising hostilities affecting maritime traffic in the region.

Following the incident, oil terminals at Iraqi ports suspended operations. Farhan al-Fartousi, Director General of the state-owned General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI), told the Iraqi News Agency that oil port operations had been halted, although commercial ports remain operational.

The decision followed an explosion involving a tanker carrying petroleum products supplied by the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO).

According to al-Fartousi, the vessel was hit by an explosion in a ship-to-ship transfer area during loading operations. One of the smaller tankers involved in the incident was flying the Malta flag.

Rescue teams, working with naval units, recovered 38 people from the site, including the deceased crew member.

Monitoring Indian vessels in the Gulf

India’s Shipping Ministry said that 28 Indian-flagged vessels are currently operating in the Persian Gulf region.

Of these, 24 ships carrying 677 Indian seafarers are located west of the Strait of Hormuz, while four vessels with 101 Indian crew members are operating east of the strategic waterway.

Authorities said the safety of Indian sailors is being closely monitored.

A 24-hour control room has been functioning at the ministry and the Directorate General of Shipping since February 28 to track developments and coordinate assistance.

Multiple maritime incidents reported

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an urgent warning about a “serious maritime incident” in the northern Gulf.

According to the advisory, two tankers were struck by an unknown projectile about five nautical miles south of Al Basrah. One vessel caught fire following the attack, but its crew was evacuated safely. Another tanker was also heavily damaged and engulfed in flames.

In a separate incident, a container ship about 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates was reportedly hit by a projectile, causing a small fire. All crew members were reported safe.

India raises concern over attacks on shipping

The escalating maritime attacks come amid a broader surge in regional violence following joint military operations by United States and Israel.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it was deeply concerned about the targeting of commercial shipping.

“India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia,” the ministry said, adding that the intensity and lethality of attacks appear to be increasing.

The situation has also raised concerns about the security of the vital oil route through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

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Meanwhile, Donald Trump and US military officials have discussed possible action against Iranian vessels suspected of laying mines in the strategic waterway to prevent disruptions to global shipping.