An Indian-flagged cargo vessel, MV Haji Ali, sank in the Oman Sea near Limah, Oman, after a suspected drone or missile strike triggered a major onboard fire while the ship was en route from Berbera Port, Somalia, to Sharjah carrying live livestock cargo.
According to preliminary reports, the explosion occurred on Wednesday (13), forcing the crew to abandon the vessel using lifeboats before the ship eventually went down on Thursday (14). The Oman Coast Guard carried out a successful rescue operation, saving all 14 Indian crew members onboard and transferring them safely to Diba Port. Authorities also confirmed that essential crew documents were recovered and no fatalities were reported.
The vessel, reportedly linked to Salaya in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district, is believed to have come under attack amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby Gulf waters. Omani authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and sinking.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the incident, describing the attack as unacceptable and expressing concern over the increasing threats faced by commercial vessels operating in the region.
The incident has raised fresh concerns across the maritime industry, especially among Indian seafarers and shipping operators navigating high-risk Gulf routes as regional instability continues to impact global shipping safety.