An Indian crew member has died after a small explosive-laden boat reportedly 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, raising concerns about the safety of merchant ships operating in the Persian Gulf as tensions continue to rise in the region.
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.
Sources cited by Press Trust of India said 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
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