All 22 Indian seafarers aboard the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT GEM NO. 2 were reported safe following an attack at Sharjah Anchorage in the United Arab Emirates on October 9, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said.
In a statement shared on social media, Sonowal said all 22 Indian crew members aboard the vessel were safe. He added that the government was continuously monitoring the situation and was in contact with the ship management company to safeguard the crew.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
All 22 Indian seafarers aboard MT GEM NO. 2 were reported safe.
The incident occurred at Sharjah Anchorage in the UAE on October 9, 2026.
The tanker is registered under the flag of Panama.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the crew’s safety.
The government was monitoring the situation and contacting the ship management company.
UKMTO separately reported a vessel struck by an unknown projectile off the UAE coast.
The tanker was anchored near Sharjah when the incident occurred. While the minister described it as a drone attack, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately reported that a vessel off the UAE coast had been struck by an unknown projectile. The available information reviewed does not independently establish the weapon used.
UKMTO reported that a fire following the strike had been extinguished. The full extent of any damage to the tanker and the identity of those responsible were not established in the reports reviewed.
The incident has renewed attention on the safety of Indian seafarers working aboard commercial vessels in areas affected by maritime security threats. India has a substantial maritime workforce serving international shipping companies, making the protection of crew members an important concern.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The safety of Indian seafarers is an important public-interest concern because many work aboard commercial vessels operating internationally. Attacks on tankers can endanger crews and potentially disrupt shipping schedules. Repeated maritime security incidents may also increase operational risks for ship operators and affect the movement of goods. The confirmation that all 22 Indian crew members were safe provides an important update for their families and the maritime community. Further information from relevant authorities is needed to establish the precise circumstances of the incident.
India and Liberia have also been promoting international cooperation through the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers. The initiative seeks to strengthen coordination among countries and maritime stakeholders to protect commercial shipping and seafarers.
The Sharjah incident comes amid wider concerns about attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf region and the Black Sea. Such incidents can put crews at risk and disrupt maritime transport and international trade.
For now, the key confirmed development is that all 22 Indian seafarers aboard MT GEM NO. 2 were reported safe, while the Indian government continued to monitor the situation in coordination with the vessel’s management company.
