An Indian sailor from Gujarat died and five other crew members were injured after a wooden dhow reportedly came under fire while crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
The vessel, identified as Al Faize Noore Sulemani 1, had a total crew of 18 onboard. It had departed from Dubai on May 7 and was heading towards Mukkam in Yemen when the incident took place around 1 am on May 8, per a report by Hindustan Times.
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Officials from the shipping directorate confirmed the incident but did not share further details. They said assistance was being provided to the affected crew members.
Crew rescued, injured taken to hospital
According to Adam Bhaya, general secretary of the Indian Sailing Vessels Association (Gujarat), the dhow was caught in an "unfortunate and violent" exchange between US and Iranian forces, per HT.
The sailor who lost his life has been identified as Altaf Talab Ker, who worked as the engine driver on the vessel. He belonged to Salaya village in Dwarka district of Gujarat.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategically sensitive maritime route and has been at the centre of rising tensions between Iran and the United States, with marine traffic facing disruptions in the region.
Remaining crew rescued by another vessel
Following the attack, the remaining crew members were rescued by another vessel, MSV Prem Sagar-I (BDI-1491), at around 7 am local time.
The rescued sailors were later brought back to Dubai Port by 6 pm on the same day. The injured crew members are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
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The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by sailors operating in conflict-hit maritime zones, especially around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors.
