Two Indian seafarers are missing after the tanker MT Petro Dolphin was struck in a drone attack while anchored off Sohar in northern Oman on October 11, in the latest in a string of assaults on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz region. Nine of the 11 Indian crew members aboard were rescued and are safe.

India's Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the attack on social media, saying the local coast guard was conducting search-and-rescue operations and that Indian authorities were coordinating closely with Omani officials to locate the missing sailors, The Straits Times reported.

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What happened at Sohar Anchorage

The MT Petro Dolphin, a Nicaragua-flagged tanker carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was subjected to a drone attack at the Sohar Anchorage on Sunday. Nine crew members were successfully rescued and are reported safe, while two Indian nationals remain unaccounted for.

"The Embassy is in close and continuous contact with the concerned authorities," India's embassy in Muscat said in a statement on X, adding that it was closely monitoring the situation concerning the tanker.

Search-and-rescue operations by the local coast guard were actively underway, the shipping minister said, noting that "every possible action is being taken to safely locate our missing personnel."

A second vessel struck the same day

The attack on the Petro Dolphin was not the day's only incident. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker M/T Valthera, also carrying 11 Indian crew members, was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on October 11, sparking a fire on board. All 11 Indian seafarers aboard the Valthera were reported safe, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs.

A pattern of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

The incidents are the latest in an intensifying campaign of attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which a substantial share of the world's oil and gas supplies passes.

At least 13 incidents involving oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers were recorded around the Strait between September 28 and October 5, according to data analysed by three maritime security sources and cited by Reuters.

Several Indian mariners have been killed in such attacks since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. Just days earlier, on October 6, India condemned the attack on the tanker MT On Peace, which was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Of its 19 crew members, 17 were Indian nationals, and 12 crew members — including 11 Indians — were injured.

"The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end," India's foreign ministry said, calling the continuing incidents "a cause of deep concern" and urging an immediate end to attacks to restore navigation and commerce through international waterways.

The assaults form part of a broader maritime escalation in the region that has included missile strikes on cargo ships in the Gulf of Oman and US strikes on blockade runners, compounding risks for energy shipments and insurance premiums.

India's response and the missing sailors

India is one of the largest suppliers of seafarers to global merchant shipping, with more than 320,000 active Indian sailors as of 2025, according to the shipping ministry — which makes its crews disproportionately exposed to the region's escalating violence.

Sonowal said New Delhi was "continuously coordinating with all relevant authorities" and that the embassy in Muscat was working with Omani authorities and the ship management companies both to find the two missing men and to provide assistance to the rescued crew.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the MT Petro Dolphin?

The Nicaragua-flagged tanker, carrying 11 Indian seafarers, was hit in a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage off Oman's coast on October 11, 2026. Nine crew members were rescued and are safe; two remain missing.

Is a search operation underway?

Yes. The Omani coast guard is actively conducting search-and-rescue operations, with India's shipping ministry and its embassy in Muscat coordinating with local authorities.

Were other vessels attacked?

On the same day, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker M/T Valthera was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire. All 11 of its Indian crew were reported safe. Days earlier, the tanker MT On Peace was hit off Oman, injuring 12 crew members including 11 Indians.

Why are attacks in the Strait of Hormuz increasing?

The assaults are part of a broader escalation following US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in 2026. At least 13 incidents involving oil and gas tankers were recorded around the Strait between September 28 and October 5 alone, raising serious security concerns for global energy shipments.