Oman Evacuates Injured Crew from MV On Peace After Strait of Hormuz Attack Amid Escalating Conflict
Omani forces evacuated ten injured seafarers from the Panama-flagged oil tanker MV On Peace after it was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. The attack, occurring during an ongoing US-Iran conflict, highlights the severe risks facing commercial shipping and global energy markets as incidents against tankers surge.
By The Shipping Chronicle · AI-assisted reporting and explanations
Oman’s air force evacuated ten injured crew members from the Panama-flagged tanker MV On Peace on October 6, 2026, following a direct hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred approximately nine nautical miles off Oman’s Musandam governorate, resulting in a fire on board and injuries to twelve of the nineteen crew members. Omani authorities transported the wounded to Khasab Hospital for urgent medical treatment. This event underscores the dangerous reality for commercial vessels navigating one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints amid the broader US-Iran war.
The MV On Peace carries a predominantly Indian crew, with seventeen out of nineteen personnel being nationals of India. Consequently, eleven of the twelve injured seafarers are Indian citizens. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities against commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure. New Delhi emphasized that navigation through international waterways must be restored without delay, reflecting the deep diplomatic concern over the safety of maritime trade routes. No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the specific strike on the On Peace, though the pattern of aggression suggests coordinated disruption efforts.
This incident is part of a rapidly escalating wave of attacks throughout early October. Just days prior, the LNG carrier Maran Gas Mystras was hit on October 5, and the LPG carrier Vela Gas faced an attack on October 4. Additionally, two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), the Cameroon Prosperity and Ghana Prosperity, were struck by unknown projectiles on October 3 and 4, respectively. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also documented another tanker attack on October 5 involving an outbound vessel. These seven reported tanker-related incidents in a single week illustrate a systematic targeting of commercial assets rather than isolated accidents.
Despite the violence, crude oil shipments through the Strait have not collapsed. Data from analytics firm Kpler indicates that the seven-day average for Middle East crude exports reached 18.3 million barrels per day (bpd) as of September 30. This figure is only slightly above the pre-war average of 18 million bpd recorded over the previous twelve months. However, market stability remains precarious. Brent crude futures have climbed significantly, reaching $101.51 a barrel on the day of the attack, a sharp increase from the $72.48 price tag recorded on February 27, just before the conflict began. The discrepancy between physical flow and pricing highlights how perceived risk drives premiums even when supply lines remain technically open.
Geopolitical tensions are further complicated by regulatory friction between the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) and international maritime law. The MV On Peace is among 81 vessels listed by the PGSA, an Iranian-aligned body that asserts these ships violated specific protocols for passage through the Strait. The authority threatens restrictions, including fines or detention, for non-compliance. This creates a dual threat for shipowners: active kinetic attacks from state or proxy actors and potential legal or logistical penalties from regional authorities imposing unilateral controls. Such overlapping jurisdictions complicate insurance and navigation decisions in already hazardous waters.
The human cost of this escalation has been particularly heavy for Indian seafarers. Since the war began in late February, the Indian government has confirmed at least ten deaths. In July, Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE-linked tankers, MT Mombasa and MT Al Bahiyah, in Omani territorial waters, killing Indian crew member Rohan Kumar and injuring ten others. Earlier in September, sailor Suraj Yadav was killed during an attack on the cargo ship MV Cape Dao. The National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) has strongly condemned the recent attacks, urging governments, shipowners, and maritime authorities to implement concrete protective measures for crews operating in high-risk zones. The continuous loss of life indicates that current security protocols are insufficient to mitigate the threats posed by asymmetric warfare in critical maritime corridors.