Indian Seafarers Killed In Gulf Tanker Attack May Not Have Had Equipment To Break Portholes And Escape: DG Shipping

Two Indian seafarers who died during a tanker attack near the coast of Oman on March 1 may not have had the equipment needed to break portholes and escape as fire engulfed the vessel, according to a safety advisory issued by India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping).

The tanker Sky Light was attacked near Oman’s Khasab port on March 1. Authorities said the vessel caught fire from both sides, trapping crew members inside the accommodation area. As the flames spread quickly, escape routes became limited.

Captain Ashish Kumar, from Bihar, was trapped inside the master’s cabin during the incident, while another crew member, Dalip Singh from Rajasthan, was trapped in the accommodation block. Both were unable to escape as the fire spread across the vessel.

In its advisory, DG Shipping said the only possible escape route from the accommodation area was through the front portholes. However, it appears there may not have been adequate equipment available on board to break the glass panels and escape.

Authorities said the fire had surrounded the accommodation from both sides, cutting off normal exit routes. Without tools to break the portholes, the trapped seafarers had no immediate way out.

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Officials have recovered severely charred skeletal remains from the captain’s cabin, which are believed to be those of Captain Ashish Kumar.

DNA testing will be conducted to confirm the identity. Arrangements are being made for the captain’s family to travel to Dubai for the forensic tests.

Dalip Singh has not been found and is currently presumed dead, according to officials.

In a separate incident, another Indian seafarer was killed in an attack in the same region. Dixit Solanki, an oiler from Mumbai, died after a suspected missile strike hit the engine room of the crude oil tanker MKD Vyom, which was operating off the coast of Oman. The strike hit the engine room area, trapping the seafarer inside before he could evacuate.

DG Shipping said recent incidents show the growing use of asymmetric attacks against merchant vessels in the region. These include boat-mounted drones, missile strikes and small craft carrying explosive payloads. In another case cited in the advisory, an attack caused serious damage to a vessel’s ballast tank and also penetrated nearby cargo tanks.

According to a DG Shipping report issued at 1800 hours on March 5, at least 66 Indian-flagged vessels were operating in the Persian Gulf region at the time. This included 24 ships west of the Strait of Hormuz and 12 ships east of the strait and in the Gulf of Oman.

These vessels carry hundreds of Indian seafarers working on tankers and cargo ships passing through one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz handles a large share of global crude oil shipments and is critical for international energy supply.

DG Shipping has advised Indian seafarers working in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters to maintain continuous vigilance and high situational awareness.

Masters and crew have been asked to maintain round-the-clock watch around vessels and report any suspicious activity such as unidentified boats, drone movements or possible missile threats.

Shipping companies and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) agencies have also been asked to establish 24×7 emergency contact systems so that seafarers and their families can receive information and assistance during emergencies.

Reference: DG Shipping