Kuwait-Flagged Tanker Hit by Projectile in Strait of Hormuz, Crew Unharmed

On Oct 21, the Kuwait-registered oil product tanker M/T Al Dasma was struck by an unknown projectile while navigating the Strait of Hormuz, 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman. The ship was carrying 21 Indian seafarers; the blast ignited a fire that was quickly put out, and the vessel remained at anchor after the attack. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced on X that all crew members are unharmed and that officials are closely tracking the incident and coordinating with the vessel’s management.

The event adds to a series of recent assaults on merchant ships in the region, including earlier strikes on the MT ST 3 and the chemical tanker YARA J. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly condemned such attacks and urged the protection of maritime navigation. Authorities continue to monitor the security situation in the Gulf’s key shipping lane.