Five Indian nationals serving on a Kuwait-flagged oil tanker were safely rescued and brought ashore in Oman after their vessel was struck by a projectile in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, the Embassy of India in Muscat confirmed on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The Indian mission identified the vessel as the crude oil tanker MT Kazimah III. In an official post on X, the Embassy stated:
“Earlier today, the Mission coordinated rescue of five Indian nationals on board the Kuwait-flagged tanker MT Kazimah III, struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. All 5 Indian nationals have been shifted ashore safely. We thank the Omani authorities for their continued support and assistance.”
MT Kazimah III is a Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker that was en route to the port of Lomé in Togo at the time of the incident. The attack occurred while the vessel was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supplies pass.
The Embassy did not provide further details on the nature of the projectile or the party responsible for the strike. The incident comes amid heightened maritime tensions and repeated attacks on commercial vessels in the region.
India has been closely monitoring the safety of its large community of seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recently noted that more than 4,500 Indian seafarers are currently serving on various merchant ships in the region. This includes around 163 Indian nationals aboard 12 active cargo vessels (six Indian-flagged and six foreign-flagged ships carrying cargo to India).
The successful rescue highlights the effective coordination between the Indian Embassy in Oman and local authorities in ensuring the safety of Indian citizens abroad during periods of regional instability.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a high-risk maritime corridor due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Indian authorities continue to advise heightened vigilance for vessels and seafarers operating in the area.