US-owned oil tanker set ablaze in assault in Iraq, Indian crew lifeless; one other ship hit

A US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, crusing beneath the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked close to Basra in Iraq on Wednesday, claiming the lifetime of an Indian crew member. One other ship, Malta-flagged ‘Zefyros’ owned by a Greek entity, was additionally attacked.Safesea Vishnu was chartered by an Iraqi firm contracted with the State Organisation for Advertising of Oil (SOMO), Zefyros was loaded with condensate merchandise from Basra Gasoline Firm and was in a ship-to-ship loading space in Iraqi waters. The incident occurred at Iraq’s Umm Qasar anchorage throughout a gas cargo switch with the Safesea Vishnu tanker late on Wednesday, Benetech Transport SA stated.The Indian embassy in Iraq has confirmed that “a US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu was attacked close to Basra by which one Indian crew member sadly misplaced his life.” In a sequence of posts on X, the mission stated, “The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a protected place”. The mission additionally famous that the “embassy of India Baghdad is in common contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is providing all doable help”. All 23 crew members of tanker Zefyros are protected and accounted for, authorities stated.In response to the deteriorating safety scenario, oil terminals at Iraqi ports on Thursday suspended operations. Farhan al-Fartousi, director basic of the state-owned Basic Firm for Ports of Iraq, confirmed to the Iraqi Information Company that “the operation of oil ports has been suspended”, although business ports proceed to perform.Earlier, a Thai vessel sure for the Kandla port in Gujarat was attacked within the Strait on Wednesday, prompting criticism from New Delhi. “India deplores the truth that business delivery is being made a goal of army assaults within the ongoing battle,” the international ministry stated on Wednesday, including that its residents had additionally died.Earlier, the Indian govt stated that at current 28 Indian-flagged vessels are working within the Persian Gulf area. Of those, 24 vessels are situated west of the Strait of Hormuz carrying 677 Indian seafarers, whereas 4 vessels are east of the Strait with 101 Indian seafarers onboard. The ministry stated their security and safety was being actively monitored.