New York, March 12: An Indian national has died following an attack by an Iranian “suicide” boat on a U.S.-owned oil tanker in Iraqi territorial waters. The Marshall Island-flagged vessel, Safesea Vishnu, was targeted near the Khor Al Zubair port as regional tensions continue to escalate.
“The company is devastated to learn of the loss of the Indian national in the attack,” sources close to Safesea stated, requesting anonymity. While the identity of the deceased is being withheld, authorities confirmed that the remaining 27 crew members and personnel were successfully rescued and moved to Basra for safety.
The 228.6-meter-long crude oil tanker was operating inside Iraq’s maritime boundaries when the strike occurred. Industry insiders have called for the Indian government to strongly condemn the act and implement urgent measures to protect maritime workers.
Sources asserted that because Indian nationals make up more than 15 per cent of the global seafaring workforce, they are frequently at risk of becoming “collateral damage” in West Asia conflicts. The Safesea Vishnu, built in 2007, remains a key asset in the region’s energy transport with a deadweight tonnage of 73,976.
