Oman Rescues Wounded Crew After Oil Tanker Struck in the Strait of Hormuz

Oman’s air force has successfully evacuated 10 crew members from the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker named On Peace following a dangerous attack in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Omani Ministry of Defence, the vessel was struck 9 nautical miles, or about 17km, off the Omani port city of Limah on Tuesday, which immediately sparked a fire on board.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry confirmed that the injured crew members were swiftly transported to Khasab hospital in Musandam governorate to receive necessary medical treatment. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the assault.

This incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating security concerns and deteriorating conditions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel against Iran. India’s Ministry of External Affairs reported that at least 12 of the ship's 19 total crew members sustained injuries when a projectile hit the vessel during its transit through the strategic waterway. Furthermore, the ministry noted that 17 of the 19 crew members were Indian nationals, including 11 of those who were injured.

Expressing deep concern, the Indian ministry stated, "The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region remain a cause of deep concern for India. We reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the interests of peace and stability in the region." India stands as one of the world's largest contributors of merchant shipping sailors, and the Indian government previously disclosed in July that at least 10 Indian seafarers had lost their lives since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in late February. An additional attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz during September also resulted in the death of an Indian sailor.

Since the war began on February 28, Iran has effectively closed the waterway, frequently targeting commercial vessels that fail to utilize its designated routes while demanding fees for passage. Shipping intelligence service Marisks reports that at least seven other tanker-related incidents have occurred over the past week alone.

Despite these persistent threats, provisional data from Kpler indicates that Middle East oil exports have recently rebounded to pre-war levels. By September 30, the seven-day moving average of Middle East crude exports reached 18.3 million barrels per day, slightly higher than the 18 million barrels per day average recorded in the 12 months preceding the war. Nevertheless, oil prices remain elevated, with Brent crude futures climbing to $101.51 per barrel on Tuesday compared to $72.48 just before the war started.