A 33-year-old seafarer from Kandivali died after a missile allegedly struck the product tanker MT MKD Vyom in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, amid rising attacks on commercial vessels in the region. The victim has been identified as Dixit Amritlal Solanki, who was employed as an oiler on the ship. The incident occurred during a period of heightened tensions in the Middle East, where several merchant ships have recently come under threat. The sudden strike triggered a powerful explosion on the tanker, leading to panic among the crew members and raising concerns about the safety of maritime workers operating in the conflict-affected waters.
According to a report by Mid-Day, Solanki had boarded the tanker on December 10, 2025, and had completed nearly 80 days of service at the time of the attack. The vessel had set sail from Europe on February 8 and was heading towards Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia when the alleged missile strike occurred. The attack reportedly took place while the tanker was passing through the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz. The blast caused significant disruption on board, leaving Solanki untraceable immediately after the incident and prompting fears among crew members that he may have been caught in the explosion.
Initially listed as missing following the explosion, Solanki is now feared to have died in the blast caused by the missile strike. Authorities and maritime officials are currently working to recover his body from the affected area. Meanwhile, the remaining 21 crew members aboard the vessel were safely rescued by another tanker, MT SAND. They have since been taken to Muscat in Oman, where they are completing the necessary legal and administrative procedures before being transported back to their original port. Officials are coordinating with shipping authorities and relevant agencies to ensure the safe return of the surviving crew members.
The report further stated that two crew members from the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight remain missing following a separate maritime incident in the region. In another development, a seafarer reportedly died in Basra, Iraq, after a missile strike on a vessel there. Additionally, four Indian sailors are currently awaiting repatriation from Bandar Abbas in Iran. The series of incidents has raised alarm within the maritime community, as multiple ships operating near the conflict zone continue to face threats. Authorities and shipping companies are closely monitoring the situation as rescue and repatriation efforts continue for affected seafarers.
These incidents come amid increasing concerns over the security of merchant shipping routes due to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Iran, and Israel. The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, remains one of the world’s most vital maritime passages. A large portion of global oil shipments and international cargo trade passes through this narrow waterway. As tensions intensify in the region, the safety of commercial vessels and crew members navigating these waters has become a major concern for global shipping authorities.