Seafarer killed as new attacks threaten shipping in Strait of Hormuz

Seafarer killed as new attacks threaten shipping in Strait of Hormuz
The Editorial Team November 3, 2026 https://safety4sea.com/seafarer-killed-as-new-attacks-threaten-shipping-...

A seafarer has been killed and several commercial vessels have come under attack in and around the Strait of Hormuz, as renewed security incidents raise concerns over the safety of crews and navigation along the strategic waterway.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on November 3 that an Indian national died from injuries sustained when the commercial vessel MSV Al Jusufi was attacked near Limah, Oman, on the evening of November 2. The other 13 Indian nationals onboard were rescued.

UKMTO also reported an attack against a tanker approximately 72 nautical miles east of Ras Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia. The vessel was traveling southeast through the Arabian Gulf when two unidentified projectiles struck its port side late on November 1.

All crew members were accounted for, and no environmental impact was reported. UKMTO did not identify the tanker or establish responsibility for the attack.

A further incident was reported on November 1 within the Strait of Hormuz, when the master of a merchant vessel relayed a Mayday call from another vessel reportedly struck by an unidentified projectile.

Maritime security company Vanguard Tech subsequently identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged offshore tug Selat Storm, reporting that it was partially sinking following the attack. Its crew’s condition was not confirmed in the initial reports.

The latest incidents follow several attacks in late October. On October 30, Oman’s Royal Navy evacuated 25 crew members from a Panama-flagged vessel that had been attacked and caught fire near the Musandam Peninsula. The rescued seafarers received medical attention.

Iran links reopening of Hormuz to US demands

The renewed attacks come as diplomatic efforts continue over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

On November 2, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran could implement a plan to reopen the waterway within two days, rather than the seven days originally proposed, provided the United States accepted Iran’s conditions, Reuters reported.

Iran’s demands include ending the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Baghaei said negotiations continued through Qatari mediators, although no agreement had been reached.

The continuing attacks highlight the immediate security risks facing commercial vessels and seafarers, even as negotiations over restoring maritime traffic continue. UKMTO has advised vessels transiting the affected areas to exercise caution and report suspicious activity while investigations remain ongoing.