The Indian government has condemned the attack on a Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel off the coast of Oman that left one of its 11 Indian crew members missing.
“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 11 Indian nationals on board, 10 have been rescued so far, while one Indian national is reportedly missing,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
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The U.S. Central Command blamed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), saying it had “blatantly attacked” the ship.
The container vessel, MV GFS Galaxy, with a cargo carrying capacity of about 88,000 tonnes, was sailing near Omani waters when it was hit by a projectile around 2 a.m. (UAE time). The impact reportedly caused a fire in the engine room, leaving the ship without propulsion or steering. The crew anchored the vessel before evacuating into lifeboats and liferafts.
Heramb Karmarkar, the ship’s third engineer, remains missing, and search and rescue operations are continuing. His family has been informed, sources said. Three rescued crew members sustained burns and minor injuries and have been admitted to hospital in Oman. The remaining crew members are being accommodated there while formalities are completed.
The ship had a crew of 24, comprising 11 Indians, four Ukrainians, four Filipinos, three Indonesians and two Sri Lankans. Twenty-three crew members were rescued about two hours after the evacuation by the Royal Navy of Oman under the coordination of the Oman Maritime Security Centre.
The vessel’s condition and the extent of the damage are yet to be ascertained. The incident occurred about nine nautical miles east of Dahit, Oman, within the Strait of Hormuz transit corridor.
Indian authorities are coordinating with Omani agencies, the ship’s management company and the Indian Embassy in Muscat to monitor the situation and assist the affected crew. The families of the Indian seafarers have been contacted and are being kept informed of developments and counselled.
The Ministry said the Indian Embassy in Oman was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation. “We thank the Omani authorities for their support,” it said, adding that the continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the region were “deeply worrisome”.
“We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region,” the Ministry said.
“The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest,” it said.
Meanwhile, the IRGC Navy said the Strait of Hormuz was “closed until further notice” and that no vessel would be permitted to transit it until U.S. intervention in the region ended.
The attack came a day after talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Omani officials on bilateral ties and the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides agreed to continue discussions, but the talks did not appear to produce a breakthrough.
Oman had publicly declared a route along its coast to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which has become increasingly popular among ships. But Iran has been warning that vessels should not take the route near the Omani coast, dubbing it “unauthorised and dangerous”. The attack on GFS Galaxy is the third attack on ships taking the Omani route in the last five days.
Published - July 12, 2026 01:29 pm IST