Pratik Bijlani –
An Indian-flagged wooden cargo vessel, the dhow Haji Ali, sank in Omani waters in the early hours of 14 May following what is believed to have been a drone or missile strike, further intensifying the ongoing maritime security crisis in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz region. The incident marks the first confirmed sinking of an Indian-flagged vessel since tensions escalated across the region earlier this year.
According to India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, all 14 crew members onboard were rescued safely by the Omani Coast Guard and transported to the port of Diba on Oman’s eastern coast. Maritime security analysts from British risk advisory firm Vanguard assessed the nature of the explosion and resulting damage as being consistent with a drone or missile strike.
The Haji Ali, a 57-metre vessel reportedly carrying livestock from Berbera in Somalia to Sharjah in the UAE, was attacked near Limah off Oman’s northern coastline at approximately 3:30 a.m. The vessel was believed to be transiting through an alternative maritime corridor that emerged after Iran effectively blocked major shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz in March. The route had increasingly been used by commercial vessels following recommendations linked to US-led maritime security measures in the region.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the attack, describing assaults on commercial shipping and civilian mariners as “unacceptable.” New Delhi reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation and the safety of merchant shipping, while calling for restraint amid worsening regional tensions.
The sinking of Haji Ali follows a series of recent incidents involving Indian-linked vessels, including the Sanmar Herald, MT Siron, and MV Barakah. While previous cases involved warning shots, damage, or forced diversions, the loss of Haji Ali represents a significant escalation in the risks facing merchant shipping in the Gulf region.
The swift rescue operation by the Omani Coast Guard was widely seen as a positive development, underlining Oman’s growing importance in regional maritime emergency response and humanitarian coordination during the ongoing crisis.
Marex Media