Indian Oil Tanker Jag Laadki Safely Sails From Fujairah After Drone Attack Disrupts Oil Terminal

An Indian-flagged crude oil tanker sailed safely from Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday after a drone attack hit a nearby oil terminal while the vessel was loading cargo.

The tanker Jag Laadki oil tanker left the port at around 10:30 am IST carrying about 80,800 metric tonnes of Murban crude oil and is now heading to India.

The incident happened during rising tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.

Officials said the tanker was loading crude at the Fujairah Single Point Mooring on March 14, 2026, when drones struck a nearby oil terminal. The attack caused fires at the facility and forced some loading operations at the port to stop for a short time.

However, the tanker was not damaged and later completed loading its cargo. All Indian seafarers on board were reported safe.

Fujairah is located on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz, and is an important oil export and bunkering hub for global shipping.

The tanker is the fourth Indian-flagged vessel to move safely through the conflict-affected region in recent days.

Two Indian LPG carriers, Shivalik LPG carrier and Nanda Devi LPG carrier, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 14 carrying about 92,712 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas.

Shivalik is expected to reach Mundra Port on March 16, while Nanda Devi is scheduled to arrive at Kandla Port on March 17.

Both ships were among 24 vessels that had been stranded on the western side of the strait after the conflict disrupted shipping traffic.

Another Indian-flagged tanker, Jag Prakash tanker, crossed the strait earlier on March 13. The vessel had loaded gasoline from Port of Sohar in Oman and is sailing toward Tanga, where it is expected to arrive on March 21.

Officials said four ships were initially stranded on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, while several others remained on the western side waiting for safe passage.

The government said 22 Indian-flagged merchant vessels with about 611 seafarers are still on the western side of the Persian Gulf region. Authorities are monitoring the situation and working through diplomatic channels to ensure safe transit.

Recent talks between Indian and Iranian officials included assurances that Indian-flagged ships and tankers would be allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Port of Fujairah is a major hub for global oil trade. Because it is located outside the Strait of Hormuz, tankers can load crude and petroleum products there without entering the narrow waterway.

The port handles more than 1.7 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products per day and has the largest commercial storage capacity for refined fuels in the Middle East.

It is also one of the region’s main bunkering centres supplying fuel to ships operating across Middle East and Indian Ocean routes.

References: tribuneindia, hindustantimes