An Indian crew member of a US-owned oil tanker has been killed after the vessel came under attack in the waters near Iraq’s Basra.The Indian embassy in Iraq, confirming the death, said 15 other Indian crew members onboard the ship were evaluated.Commercial ships in the Persian Gulf have been targeted by the Iranian military in the last few days. “On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker, Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life,” the Indian embassy in Iraq said on social media.
“The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place,” it said.The embassy said it is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance to them.The mission extended its “deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased crew member.Sources close to Safesea, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the company is devastated to learn of the loss of the Indian national in the attack.They have called for the Indian government to strongly condemn the attack and take urgent action to ensure the safety of crew onboard ships in the region amid the escalating West Asia conflict.
The sources voiced concern that, as Indians constitute over 15% of the seafarers globally, irrespective of whichever ship Iran targets, Indian nationals will be "collateral damage".According to information on the website Vessel Finder, the 228.6 metres long and 32.57 metres wide Safesea Vishnu is a crude oil tanker built in 2007, currently sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands.It has a gross tonnage of 42010 and deadweight tonnage of 73976.