In a worrying security incident along key West Asian maritime routes, the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT GEM NO. 2 was targeted in a drone attack on October 9 at Sharjah Anchorage off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The vessel, operating with an all-Indian crew of 22 seafarers, was struck approximately 13 nautical miles west of the UAE coastline in the Arabian Gulf. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the strike sparked a localized fire onboard, which the crew and onboard damage-control systems successfully brought under control without reported structural compromise or casualties.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Confirms Safety of All 22 Indian Nationals

Providing prompt reassurance to the families of the maritime personnel, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal took to X on Saturday, October 10, to confirm that every Indian national aboard survived unharmed.

The minister stated:

“On Oct 9, Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT GEM NO. 2, carrying a crew of 22 Indian nationals, was subjected to a drone attack at Sharjah Anchorage. I am relieved to share that all 22 of our Indian seafarers onboard are reported to be completely safe. We are continuously monitoring the situation and in contact with the ship management company to ensure security and wellbeing of our seafarers.”

Indian maritime officials and the Ministry of External Affairs remain in active communication with the vessel’s operational management to coordinate ongoing safety protocols, supply provisions, and transit clearance.

Escalating Threat Landscape Across Regional Sea Lines

The attack on MT GEM NO. 2 marks another serious episode in an expanding wave of maritime threats affecting commercial shipping lanes across the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea, and adjacent strategic chokepoints. Uncrewed aerial systems (drones) and surface projectiles have increasingly endangered merchant vessels and innocent civilian crews transporting vital cargo and energy supplies. What makes this development particularly concerning for regional logistics is that Sharjah Anchorage—typically regarded as a secure zone for refueling, crew changes, and maintenance—has now seen direct drone activity, prompting international shipping agencies to issue heightened security advisories for commercial vessels anchoring off UAE waters.

India’s Strategic Push to Protect Global Merchant Seafarers

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of qualified merchant navy officers and crew, India has continually intensified its international diplomacy to ensure robust safety standards across vulnerable maritime corridors. Working alongside Liberia—which holds the world’s largest shipping registry by gross tonnage—India has repeatedly called for coordinated international measures to halt unprovoked strikes on merchant fleets. In response to the latest strike, seafarers’ welfare associations have urged the central government to form high-level crisis response mechanisms with coastal states to safeguard Indian maritime workers navigating volatile regional waters.