Key Highlights
- Indian vessel attacked near Oman: The Indian cargo vessel Haji Ali was attacked in Omani waters near the Strait of Hormuz on 13 May 2026.
- Ship sank after fire: The attack reportedly triggered a fire on board, eventually leading to the vessel sinking.
- All crew rescued: All 14 Indian crew members, including the captain and sailors, were rescued by Oman’s Coast Guard and taken to Dibba port.
- Cargo was livestock: Reports say the vessel was carrying livestock and was sailing from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates when it came under attack.
- India condemns incident: The Ministry of External Affairs described the targeting of commercial vessels and civilian mariners as “unacceptable.”
- No attacker officially identified: Indian officials have not publicly identified who carried out the attack.
- The incident comes amid rising maritime insecurity around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy and shipping route.
A fresh maritime security scare has emerged in the Gulf region after an Indian-flagged cargo ship sank off the coast of Oman following an attack. The vessel, identified as Haji Ali, was reportedly registered in Gujarat and had 14 Indian nationals on board. The crew survived the incident, but the sinking of the vessel has again raised serious concerns over the safety of Indian ships and seafarers operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
The attack comes at a time when the region is already witnessing heightened tension involving Iran, the United States and other West Asian actors. For India, the incident is significant not only because an Indian-flagged vessel was hit, but also because the Strait of Hormuz remains crucial for energy supplies, commercial shipping and the safety of Indian seafarers.
India has strongly condemned an attack on an Indian-flagged cargo vessel, Haji Ali, which sank off the coast of Oman after reportedly being hit in a suspected drone or missile strike near the sensitive Strait of Hormuz region. The incident took place on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, and was confirmed by Indian officials on Thursday, 14 May 2026. All 14 Indian crew members on board were rescued safely by Oman’s Coast Guard and taken to Diba/Dibba port in Oman. The Ministry of External Affairs called attacks on commercial shipping and civilian crew “unacceptable,” while officials have not yet named who carried out the attack.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Mukesh Mangal says, "... Last night, two LPG carrier vessels passed through Hormuz. Sehmi, an LPG carrier, a Marshall Island-flagged vessel carrying 19,965 metric tons of LPG cargo for India with 21 foreign crew members on board, safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 13 May and is expected to arrive at Kandla on 16 May 2026.
Another vessel, that is NV Sunshine, an LPG carrier and Vietnam-flagged vessel carrying 46,427 metric tons of LPG cargo for India with 24 foreign crew members on board, safely crossed the state of Hormuz on the 14th of May and is expected to arrive at New Mangalore on the 18th of May 2026.
Also, in a sad incident. An Indian mechanised sailing vessel that is actually made of wood and named Haji Ali during its voyage from Somalia to Sharjah, UAE, reportedly encountered an attack incident in Omani waters in the early hours of 13th May 2026, which led to fire on board and the subsequent sinking of the vessel.
All 14 crew members on board were safely rescued by the Omani Coast Guard and have reached Diba port in Oman. The crew is reported to be safe, and necessary formalities with the local authorities have been completed.
The Government of India has remained in close coordination with the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, Indian mission officials and relevant maritime agencies in the past 72 hours, except for the MSV Haji Ali incident, no other incidents have been reported covering Indian vessels or foreign vessels with Indian seafarers. All other Indian seafarers are currently reported safe."
Why This Incident Matters?
The attack is significant for three major reasons.
- First, it involved an Indian-flagged commercial vessel, making it a direct concern for India’s maritime security and diplomatic establishment.
- Second, the location is highly sensitive. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints and is critical for global oil, gas and cargo movement. Any attack in or around this region can affect shipping routes, insurance costs, energy markets and seafarer safety.
- Third, the incident comes amid a broader pattern of maritime insecurity in West Asian waters. Recent weeks have seen growing concern over attacks, seizures and disruptions involving commercial vessels in the region.
The sinking of Haji Ali may have ended without loss of life, but it has sent a sharp message: India’s commercial shipping interests are increasingly exposed to the turbulence of West Asian waters, and ensuring the safety of Indian seafarers will remain a major diplomatic and maritime priority in the days ahead.
