A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, MT LOUISE 1, carrying 27 Indian seafarers, was struck by two limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz on October 30, causing a fire in its engine room and temporarily disabling the vessel. Reuters, citing three maritime-security sources, reported that a small boat approached the tanker and attached the explosives to its hull before leaving.
The crew brought the fire under control and the vessel later resumed its journey, with no environmental damage reported. All 27 Indian seafarers were safe and no injuries were reported, Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said. The incident is the first known successful limpet-mine attack on a vessel in the waterway since the US-Iran conflict began in February, although responsibility for the attack has not been established.
Fire Erupts Onboard
The attack occurred around 25 nautical miles (46 km) north-east of Khasab, Oman, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). While UKMTO’s initial information referred to explosive devices attached to a tanker, three maritime-security sources cited by Reuters identified the vessel as MT LOUISE 1 and said two limpet mines had been attached to its hull.
The explosions caused a fire in the engine room and temporarily left the tanker unable to operate. The crew subsequently extinguished the fire, and the vessel continued towards its next port. UKMTO reported that the crew was safe and that there was no environmental damage.
Sonowal said India was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the ship-management company to protect the crew. He also confirmed that 29 Indian seafarers across two vessels targeted on October 29 and 30 were safe without injuries. The other vessel, Liberia-flagged VLCC MT ARZANAH, carrying two Indian nationals, was targeted in a separate projectile attack on October 29.
Limpet Mines Raise Alarm
The use of limpet mines represents a significant maritime-security concern because the explosives can be attached directly to a vessel’s hull at close range. Reuters reported that the latest attack followed an unsuccessful attempt in September, when similar devices reportedly failed to detonate.
Maritime risk-management group Marisks warned that allowing a small boat to approach a moving tanker, attach explosives and withdraw presents a serious challenge, particularly in the Strait’s congested waters. The group has described the method as relatively inexpensive and low-tech, potentially making it difficult to prevent without tighter surveillance and security measures.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions and repeated attacks involving commercial vessels since the US-Iran conflict began in February.
The attacks have increased concerns over the safety of ships and seafarers operating through the waterway, while disruptions to shipping also carry wider implications for global energy supplies and trade.
Another Tanker Targeted
The incident involving LOUISE 1 came just a day after MT ARZANAH, a Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier carrying two Indian nationals, was targeted in a separate projectile attack in the Strait of Hormuz. Sonowal said both Indian nationals were safe.
Together, the incidents put 29 Indian seafarers aboard two commercial vessels at risk within two days, although none was injured. The Indian government said it was maintaining contact with the relevant ship-management companies and monitoring the safety of the crew.
The identity of those responsible for the LOUISE 1 attack remains unclear. That distinction is important as the incident unfolds: while the attacks are taking place amid the wider US-Iran confrontation and Iran’s restrictions on shipping through the waterway, there is currently no confirmed attribution of the limpet-mine attack to a particular party.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
For the 27 Indian seafarers aboard MT LOUISE 1, this was not a geopolitical contest but a potentially life-threatening situation while doing their jobs. Civilian ships and their crews should not become targets or collateral damage in conflicts between states or armed groups. The growing use of different methods to threaten commercial shipping also underlines the need for stronger international cooperation to protect seafarers and keep vital waterways safe.
India must continue pressing for the protection of its maritime workforce while supporting diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region. How can countries work together to protect civilian seafarers and prevent vital international waterways from becoming battlegrounds?
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⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE ⚠️ On Oct 29, Liberia-flagged VLCC MT ARZANAH, carrying 2 Indian nationals, and on Oct 30, Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT LOUISE 1, carrying 27 Indian seafarers, were targeted in projectile attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. All 29 Indian seafarers across both vessels are completely safe with no injuries. We are continuously monitoring the situations & coordinating with the ship management companies to ensure the ongoing security and wellbeing of our crew.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) October 30, 2026
