A burned and heavily damaged tugboat illustrates the aftermath of a maritime attack that left several crew members dead and others seriously injured (Marine Insight)
Three Indonesian tugboat crew members are missing after their ship sank in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident happened on March 6 when the Musaffah 2, a ship from Ras Al Khaimah, was sailing through the strait after towing the damaged Safeen Prestige, a Maltese container ship.
The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has not confirmed the cause of the sinking. A report from shipping firm Vanguard stated that two missiles hit the tugboat before it began to sink.
Musaffah 2 carried seven crew members from the Philippines, Indonesia, and India. After the explosion, four crew members survived, while three Indonesians are still missing. One Indonesian national survived the incident with 20% burns and the crew member is now receiving medical treatment in a hospital in Khasab, Oman.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a hotspot due to the war between Iran and US-Israel that started on February 28. During the conflict, strikes from opposing sides were sometimes aimed at ships spoofing positions near Fujairah and the Gulf of Oman.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that 10 vessels had been attacked after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israel alliance’s offensive assault on its capital.
An Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said that the government has urged officials to conduct further investigations, noting that “Three other Indonesian crew members are still being searched for by local authorities.” The Indonesian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates and Oman continue to coordinate with local authorities regarding search and rescue efforts.
The ministry urged all Indonesian nationals residing in the Middle East, including all ship crews and maritime workers, to increase vigilance and maintain communication with the local representatives to anticipate emergencies.
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