Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 17: A total of 24 Indian seafarers escaped unhurt after two tankers carrying them were struck in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and off Romania earlier this week, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday.

Crude oil tanker MT ST 3, carrying 15 Indian seafarers, was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on October 16.

In a separate incident on October 14, chemical tanker YARA J, carrying nine Indian seafarers, was struck by a drone at Sulina Anchorage in Romania, the minister said.

There were no casualties or injuries in either incident, Sonowal said in a post on X. He added that the government was closely monitoring both situations and coordinating with the ship management companies to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew members.

The incidents come amid heightened maritime security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which a significant share of the world's oil shipments passes. The narrow passage between Iran and Oman has witnessed repeated security threats amid tensions in West Asia, raising concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and global energy supplies.

The incident off Romania has also highlighted security risks to merchant vessels operating in the wider Black Sea region, where the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has heightened threats to maritime traffic.

The government is monitoring developments and coordinating with the concerned ship management companies to ensure the safety of all Indian seafarers involved in the incidents.