Indian Seafarer Killed After Explosive Boat Hits Tanker Safesea Vishnu Near Iraq

An Indian crew member has died after a small explosive-laden boat struck the crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu near Iraq’s southern coast on March 11, 2026.

The incident happened close to Khor Al Zubair Port near Basra.

Officials said the tanker was operating inside Iraqi territorial waters during a ship-to-ship transfer when the suspected “suicide boat” rammed into the vessel.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Safesea Vishnu was positioned in a designated transfer zone near Khor Al Zubair, an important port linked to Iraq’s oil export system, when the incident occurred.

Authorities believe the small boat involved in the attack was packed with explosives and deliberately steered into the tanker.

Farhan al-Fartousi, director-general of Iraq’s General Company for Ports, told the Iraqi News Agency that a vessel operating in the Persian Gulf had been hit in what officials described as a suicide boat attack.

Authorities confirmed that one Indian national on board the tanker was killed during the incident. The identity of the crew member has not yet been released publicly.

The remaining crew and personnel on the vessel were rescued after the strike and taken to Basra, where they received medical checks and assistance from local authorities.

Officials from the Embassy of India in Baghdad said the tanker had 15 Indian crew members on board. The surviving Indian sailors were moved to a safe location after the attack.

The embassy said it was in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and was providing support to the affected seafarers.

Sources connected to the vessel’s operator said the company was deeply saddened by the loss of the Indian crew member. They called on the Indian government to strongly condemn the attack and urged urgent international steps to improve the safety of seafarers working in high-risk waters in West Asia.

According to maritime tracking platforms, Safesea Vishnu is a crude oil tanker built in 2007. The vessel measures 228.6 metres in length and 32.57 metres in width, with a gross tonnage of 42,010 and a deadweight tonnage of 73,976. The ship sails under the Marshall Islands flag.

The tanker was operating in Iraqi waters when the incident occurred.

Indian nationals make up more than 15 percent of the world’s seafaring workforce, making them one of the largest groups employed in international shipping. Because of this, industry observers say Indian seafarers could often be caught in conflicts affecting commercial vessels.

References: abplive, indiatvnews