‘Unacceptable’: MEA condemns attack on Indian-flagged ship off Oman coast

NEW DELHI: Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman, calling the incident “unacceptable” and expressing concern over continued attacks on commercial shipping in the region.In an official statement, the MEA said all Indian crew members on board the vessel were safe and thanked Omani authorities for rescuing them.“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the MEA spokesperson said.“All Indian crew on board are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them,” the statement added.India also reiterated its position against attacks on merchant vessels and disruptions to maritime trade routes.“India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided,” the MEA said.The incident comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia and continued disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route.Multiple India-bound LPG tankers have continued crossing the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours despite the ongoing security situation in the region.The report said two foreign-flagged LPG carriers carrying cooking gas for India recently completed transit through the strait.One of them, the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Symi, carrying around 20,000 tonnes of liquid propane and butane, is headed to Deen Dayal Port in Kandla with a crew comprising eight Ukrainians and 13 Filipinos.Another Vietnam-flagged vessel, NV Sunshine, carrying LPG, completed its transit on Thursday morning and is proceeding towards New Mangalore port.Officials said the movement of ships through the strait was taking place with close coordination among India’s DG Shipping, and the ministries of external affairs, defence, and petroleum and natural gas.13 India-flagged ships are currently in the Persian Gulf awaiting passage through the conflict-hit route.