India on Friday summoned US Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time this week after another merchant vessel carrying Indian crew members came under attack off the coast of Oman, marking the third such incident involving Indian sailors in just four days.
The American diplomat was called in by the Additional Secretary (Americas) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as New Delhi intensified its diplomatic response to the worsening maritime security situation in the Gulf region.
The latest summons followed reports that Guinea-Bissau-flagged MT Jalveer, carrying 20 Indian seafarers, was struck off the Omani coast. The incident marked the third attack on a merchant vessel with Indian crew members since June 8.
Fresh Advisory for Indian Seafarers
Hours before the diplomatic protest, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued a fresh maritime security advisory for nearly 18,000 Indian seafarers operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and adjoining waters.
The advisory was prompted by a series of attacks on commercial vessels, including one that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.
Three Attacks in Four Days
The first incident occurred on June 8 when MT Marivex caught fire following what maritime security sources described as a suspected strike. All 24 Indian crew members aboard the vessel were reported safe.
The second attack took place on June 10 when MT Settebello came under fire in the Gulf of Oman. The tanker had 24 Indian crew members on board. While 21 sailors were rescued, three Indians initially reported missing were later confirmed dead.
The latest attack was reported on Thursday when MT Jalveer, carrying 20 Indian crew members, was targeted off the coast of Oman. Officials have not yet disclosed the full details of the incident or the extent of damage to the vessel.
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai, in coordination with Omani authorities, rescued 24 Indian crew members following a missile attack on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex off the coast of Oman. The rescued crew members are reported to be safe, and no casualties…
— Ayushi Agarwal (@ayu_agarwal94) June 9, 2026
India Raises Concerns Over Maritime Security
According to official estimates, 622 Indian seafarers aboard 13 India-flagged vessels are currently operating in waters around the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, nearly 18,000 Indians work on hundreds of foreign-flagged merchant ships across the wider Gulf region.
India has one of the world's largest seafaring communities, with approximately 3.2 lakh Indian seafarers serving on vessels globally, making the country particularly vulnerable to disruptions in maritime trade routes and security threats in the region.
The latest diplomatic démarche reflects New Delhi's growing concern over the safety of Indian nationals at sea as tensions continue to escalate in the strategically important Gulf shipping corridor.
