Missile Hits UAE Salvage Tug Assisting Damaged Container Ship In Strait of Hormuz, 4 Seafarers Killed

tug — Image for representation purposes only

At least four seafarers were killed and three others seriously injured after missiles struck a UAE-flagged salvage tug in the Strait of Hormuz on March 6, 2026.

The vessel, Mussafah 2, was sailing to assist a damaged container ship that had earlier been hit by a projectile near Oman.

Maritime authorities and security firms say the attack occurred in one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, raising concerns about shipping safety and freedom of navigation in the region.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received reports that a vessel had been hit by unknown projectiles about 6 nautical miles north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, the vessel involved was the UAE-flagged salvage tug Mussafah 2, which was attempting to assist the 1,740-TEU container ship Safeen Prestige.

The tug was reportedly struck by two missiles while sailing about 18 nautical miles off Khasab, Oman, as it headed toward the damaged feeder container ship.

Per reports, eight crew members were onboard the tug at the time of the attack.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) later confirmed that four seafarers were killed and three seriously injured. Earlier reports had suggested that all crew members might have died.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the attack and raised concerns about the safety of seafarers operating in the region.

He said he was deeply saddened by reports that several seafarers had lost their lives and described the situation as unacceptable.

The Mussafah 2 had been dispatched to assist the Safeen Prestige, a 2013-built feeder container ship, which had been drifting in the Strait of Hormuz since March 4.

The container vessel was struck by a projectile above the waterline near its stern, which caused a fire in the engine room. The crew later abandoned the ship and were evacuated safely.

The tug was sent to stabilize the drifting vessel, which was reportedly taking on water and at risk of sinking.

According to the Equasis ship database, Mussafah 2 was built in 2012, measures about 26 metres in length, and is managed by Abu Dhabi Marine Services (Safeen), a subsidiary of AD Ports Group.

Per reports, the tug’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal stopped transmitting after it departed Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi a day before the incident.

UKMTO alerts have reported several other suspicious or hostile events involving commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, including:

A container ship hit by an unknown projectile, causing an engine-room fire
A vessel observing a projectile splash about 20 nautical miles west of Dubai
A tanker near Mubarak Al Kabeer, Kuwait, reporting an explosion with oil seen on the water surface

Authorities said crews on those vessels were safe and investigations are ongoing.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

A significant share of the world’s seaborne oil shipments passes through the narrow waterway.

Security analysts warn that attacks on commercial vessels and maritime support ships could disrupt shipping operations in the region and increase insurance and security costs for ships transiting the route.

References: UKMTO, The Kenya Times

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