An oil tanker flying the flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands was attacked by a drone boat 52 nautical miles (96.3km) off the coast of Muscat, according to Oman’s Maritime Security Centre (MSC).The vessel, named MKD VYOM, was carrying approximately 59,463 metric tonnes of cargo and the attack triggered an explosion in the main engine room resulting in a fire. One Indian crew member was killed.There were 21 people of multiple nationalities on board, including 16 Indian, four Bangladeshi and one Ukrainian national. Oman’s MSC evacuated the crew using the commercial vessel MV SAND, which flies the flag of the Republic of Panama.It has not been specified who attacked the vessel.Oman authorities stated they are monitoring the condition of the damaged tanker and issuing the necessary warnings to ships passing through the same maritime area in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.The incident reveals escalating danger in the maritime region as crude oil prices soared on Monday morning. Traders are betting that oil supplies from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East will grind to a halt.The price of a barrel of US benchmark crude is up 7% trading at $72, while Brent crude also climbed 7% to $78.4 a barrel, at the time of writing.On Sunday, Oman’s MSC had already reported a first attack against a Palau-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Musandam. The statement on the incident did not specify who or what attacked the ship that was reportedly under US sanctions.Shipping giants suspend operationsOver the weekend, US and Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Iranian naval warnings prohibiting commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz.Although no formal international closure has been issued by recognised maritime authorities, the threats and direct attacks on vessels skyrocketed war-risk insurance, and extreme security risks have caused a near-total halt in shipping operations.Major container shipping lines have moved swiftly to protect crews and assets.Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM each announced the suspension of all vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, directing ships in or heading to the Persian Gulf to safe anchorages and rerouting many services around the Cape of Good Hope while also pausing Suez passages.MSC has instructed all its Gulf-region vessels, and those in transit, to proceed to designated safe shelters and has temporarily suspended worldwide cargo bookings to the Middle East. FILE. The container ship Maersk Emerald being unloaded, Jul. 2018 - AP Photo/Ben Margot Japanese lines NYK, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Kawasaki Kisen similarly halted all Hormuz operations, with vessels standing by or anchored in safe waters outside the strait since Saturday night.On the oil and gas side, several unnamed oil majors, tanker owners and trading houses have suspended crude, fuel and LNG shipments via the strait.Independent ship-tracking data from several sources including Reuters confirm a roughly 70% drop in overall vessel traffic through the waterway as of late Saturday, with activity in the main shipping lanes down 40-50% by Sunday.At least 150 crude and LNG tankers have dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the strait, clustered off the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other regional ports.The strait itself is not under a permanent or universally recognised blockade, but commercial operations have effectively paused for the time being due to the combination of risks and insurer pullbacks.This has interrupted roughly 20-30% of global seaborne oil trade and a substantial share of LNG flows, with the situation remaining fluid and expected to persist until regional security stabilises.

Tanker reportedly struck off Oman, raising spill concerns The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MKD Vyom was reportedly struck by a projectile while sailing off the coast of Oman, according to maritime security sources. The incident is said to have occurred approximately 44.4 nautical miles northwest of Muscat, raising concerns over navigational safety and potential environmental impact in the area. According to #MarineTraffic data, the 272-metre tanker is currently laden and was operating in waters off northern Oman at the time of the incident.

There have been attacks on three tankers; strikes on Bahrain International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Zayed International Airport; along with attacks on Jebel Ali Port, in the United Arab Emirates, and in Duqm Port, in Oman.  One seafarer has been confirmed killed after a projectile hit the tanker, MKD VYOM (IMO: 9284386) off the coast of Oman. The seafarer was working in the Marshall Islands-flagged ship’s engine room at the time. Reports also suggest that four seafarers were injured when a sanctioned Palau-flagged tanker, Skylight (IMO: 9396737), was also hit off the coast of Oman on Sunday.  Four airport staff were injured at Dubai International Airport, one person was killed with seven injured at Zayed International Airport, and minor injuries were suffered at Kuwait International Airport. A worker is also reported to have been injured in a drone attack on Duqm Port, Oman.

Targeting of an oil tanker northwest of Sultan Qaboos Port and evacuation of its crew following an outbreak of fire.

Highlighted (confirmed) incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East. DateShip Name (IMO Number)LocationDescription19 MarchHALUL 50 (IMO 9602796) 4NM east of Ras Laffan, Qatar Damaged. No pollution. No injuries.16 MarchGAS AL AHMADIAH (IMO 9849629)23NM east of Fujairah, UAEDamage. No pollution. No injuries.12 MarchSOURCE BLESSING (IMO 9243198)35NM north of Jebel Ali, UAEDamage. No pollution. No injuries.11 MarchZEFYROS (IMO 9515917)Near Khor Al Zubair Port, IraqAttack on SAFESEA VISHNU caused collateral damage (fire). No injuries.11 MarchSAFESEA VISHNU (IMO 9327009)Impact caused fire near Khor Al Zubair Port, Iraq. One seafarer fatality.11 MarchSTAR GWYNETH (IMO 9301031) 50NM north-west of DubaiDamage to cargo holds and forecastle. No injuries.11 MarchMAYUREE NAREE (IMO 9323649)11NM north of OmanFire on board. Three seafarers unaccounted for.11 MarchONE MAJESTY (IMO 9424912)25NM northwest of Ra's al Khaymah, UAEHull damage. No injuries.7 MarchARABIA III (IMO 8771332)Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia One seafarer injured.6 MarchMUSSAFAH 2 (IMO 9522051)6NM north of OmanFour seafarers fatalities. Three severely injured.5 MarchNAMIBEAN ENGLISH (IMO 9325049)30NM southeast of Mubarak Al Kabeer, KuwaitHull breach. No injuries.4 MarchSAFEEN PRESTIGE (IMO 9593517)2NM north of OmanHull damage above waterline. No injuries3 MarchGOLD OAK (IMO 9806342)7NM East of Fujairah, UAESSteel plating damage. No injuries.  3 MarchLIBRA TRADER (IMO 9562673)10NM east of Fujairah, UAEMorer damage. No injuries.1 MarchSTENA IMPERATIVE (IMO 9666077)At Berth, Port of BahrainOne shipyard worker fatality. Two shipyard workers were seriously injured.1 MarchHERCULES STAR (IMO 9916135)17 NM NW of Mina Saqr, UAEFire on board. No injuries.1 MarchMKD VYOM (IMO 9284386)52 NM NW of Muscat, OmanOne seafarer fatality.1 March SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020)5 NM NW of Khasab, OmanFour seafarers injured. One seafarer fatality. One seafarer missing.

Highlighted (confirmed) incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East. DateShip Name (IMO Number)LocationDescription19 MarchHALUL 50 (IMO 9602796) 4NM east of Ras Laffan, Qatar Damage. No pollution. No injuries.16 MarchGAS AL AHMADIAH (IMO 9849629)23NM east of Fujairah, UAEDamage. No pollution. No injuries.12 MarchSOURCE BLESSING (IMO 9243198)35NM north of Jebel Ali, UAEDamage. No pollution. No injuries.11 MarchZEFYROS (IMO 9515917)Near Khor Al Zubair Port, IraqAttack on SAFESEA VISHNU caused collateral damage (fire). No injuries.11 MarchSAFESEA VISHNU (IMO 9327009)Near Khor Al Zubair Port, Iraq Impact caused fire. One seafarer fatality.11 MarchSTAR GWYNETH (IMO 9301031) 50NM north-west of DubaiDamage to cargo holds and forecastle. No injuries.11 MarchMAYUREE NAREE (IMO 9323649)11NM north of OmanFire on board. Three seafarers unaccounted for.11 MarchONE MAJESTY (IMO 9424912)25NM north-west of Ra’s al Khaymah, UAEHull damage. No injuries.7 MarchARABIA III (IMO 8771332)Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia One seafarer injured.6 MarchMUSSAFAH 2 (IMO 9522051)6NM north of OmanFour seafarer fatalities. Three severely injured.5 MarchSONANGOL NAMIBE (IMO 9325049)30NM south east of Mubarak Al Kabeer, KuwaitHull breach. No injuries.4 MarchSAFEEN PRESTIGE (IMO 9593517)2NM north of OmanHull damage above waterline. No injuries3 MarchGOLD OAK (IMO 9806342)7NM east of Fujairah, UAESteel plating damage. No injuries.  3 MarchLIBRA TRADER (IMO 9562673)10NM east of Fujairah, UAEMinor damage. No injuries.1 MarchSTENA IMPERATIVE (IMO 9666077)At Berth, Port of BahrainOne shipyard worker fatality. Two shipyard workers seriously injured.1 MarchHERCULES STAR (IMO 9916135)17 NM NW of Mina Saqr, UAEFire on board. No injuries.1 MarchMKD VYOM (IMO 9284386)52 NM NW of Muscat, OmanOne seafarer fatality.1 March SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020)5 NM N of Khasab, OmanFour seafarers injured. One seafarer fatality. One seafarer missing.

The Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences on the tragic demise of an Indian national on board MKD Vyom. The Embassy is in close coordination with the local authorities in Oman to facilitate the safe and early repatriation of our nationals on board the vessel. We remain committed to extending all possible assistance in this matter.

Highlighted incidents Please find below a list of highlighted incidents that include death/injuries. Full list of highlighted (confirmed) incidents here. MAYUREE NAREE (IMO 9323649) - 11 March - Three seafarer fatalities. SAFESEA VISHNU (IMO 9327009) - 11 March - One seafarer fatality. ARABIA III (IMO 8771332) - 7 March - One seafarer injured. MUSSAFAH 2  (IMO 9522051) - 6 March - Four seafarer fatalities. Three severely injured. STENA IMPERATIVE (IMO 9666077) - 1 March - One shipyard worker fatality. Two shipyard workers seriously injured. MKD VYOM (IMO 9284386) - 1 March - One seafarer fatality. SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020) - 1 March - Four seafarers injured. One seafarer fatality. One seafarer missing.

The blast tore through the engine room of the tanker MKD Vyom without warning on the morning of 1 March. “There were immense shock waves and a fireball,” says Basis*, a seafarer on one of the first ships to suffer a fatal attack in the Gulf of Oman during the US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran.“For one or two seconds, I was knocked out,” he says. “Everything went black. The power was gone. I looked up – fire and thick black smoke was pouring down.”Shocked by the explosion, he tried to make sense of what was happening, before realising he needed to escape – and quickly.“The engine room had been destroyed. There were metal pipes, insulation covers, tanks, torn apart. A 2cm-thick solid fire door, glass windows – bang, all gone.“I thought: ‘I’m alive. I have to get out of here.’”A picture of fire engulfing the MKD Vyom after it was hit, taken by someone onboard the rescue vessel. Photograph: Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ AssociationBasis’s extraordinary testimony to the Guardian lays out in detail for the first time the terrifying experiences of the seafarers on the ships at the centre of the US-Israeli war against Iran.He is “one of the lucky ones”, he says, surviving an incident from which not everyone escaped alive.The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MKD Vyom had been bound for Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, from Amsterdam via the strait of Hormuz. Amid the escalating conflict, the ship had been instructed to stop, report anything suspicious and await further instructions, Basis says.More than 100 miles from Iran, “very far” from the strait and with no ships nearby, no one was unduly worried, he says.At the time Basis had no idea that, two hours before the MKD Vyom was hit, another tanker, the Skylight, had come under attack, killing one seafarer and leaving another missing.He recalls how, despite almost suffocating from the thick black smoke that burned his throat and lungs, his training and familiarity with the vessel kicked in. In complete darkness, he somehow found the exit and the stairs and dragged himself up to the bridge.Dixit Solanki, a 32-year-old seafarer who died in the suspected missile attack on the MKD Vyom off Oman. Photograph: X“Twice or three times, I was almost senseless with suffocation. But I thought: ‘If I collapse, I will die.’ God helped me, I believe, because I do not know how I found the courage.”On deck, an eerie silence engulfed the vessel.“A running ship is alive, you feel it, there is always noise. But you could have heard a pin drop. It was very calm. The ocean was also calm, no wind.”It was then he learned that his “beloved colleague” and a “good friend of everybody”, Dixit Solanki , 32, an oiler from Mumbai, India, remained missing, probably in the engine room, where the fire was still raging.To find him on a vessel with no mains power and a damaged engine, the 21-strong Ukrainian, Indian and Bangladeshi crew had to fight the flames with just fire extinguishers and sand.Some began lowering buckets over the vessel’s side and into the sea, hauling seawater up by hand, in an increasingly desperate attempt to control the blaze.It took four hours to extinguish the fire before the rescue operation could begin. But despite their best efforts, it was already too late. Basis and another crew member found their colleague dead, lying under wrecked and twisted metal in the engine room.“We tried our best to recover his body, for us and for his family,” says Basis. But a second blaze began and the fire began to spread via ruptured oil tanks.With a cargo of 60,000 tonnes of petrol onboard, the situation had become critical.“If fire spread and came to the cargo side, we all would be vanished,” he says. Shortly afterwards the captain gave the order to abandon ship.“Leaving the vessel, leaving a colleague behind, trapped in the engine room, was unbearable,” says Basis. “We used our training and fought the fire. But we felt like we had failed.”On Thursday, Amratlal Gokal Solanki, 64, said his son Dixit was his “hero”.The seaman was “calm, hardworking and a gentleman”, always willing to help others, “no matter how tired after long hours at sea”, his father said. “He was not just a sailor – he was a son, a protector and the heart of the family. His loss has left an emptiness that can never truly be filled.”The solid-steel door of the engine control room, wrecked by the missile strike. The picture was taken by one of the crew’s rescuers as they searched for Dixit Solanki’s body. Photograph: SuppliedThe ship’s hull where the missile breached the engine room. Photograph: SuppliedSolanki, a retired seafarer, said governments and shipping companies must do more to protect ships’ crews travelling through conflict zones: “No sailor should have to fear losing their life simply for doing their job.”The family of Ashish Kumar, from Bihar, who was the captain of the Skylight, which was hit hours before the Vyom, have not heard from him since before the attack, but refuse to believe he is dead.Ansu Kumari, his wife, says she cannot accept he is gone. “They go abroad to build a future. If something like this happens, families are destroyed. I have full faith that he is trapped somewhere. He will definitely come back,” she says.Since the 1 March, 10 seafarers have been killed in the strait of Hormuz and the wider region, in 32 attacks on ships. It is unusual for seafarers, who are often not trade union members and fear being blacklisted by unscrupulous shipowners, to speak out.After Basis and the crew were rescued by another vessel, the ship’s management company arranged for them to be put up in Oman, where they were given counselling and medical treatment. They were sent home on 4 March.Ten weeks on from his ordeal, Basis stresses that he is speaking on his own behalf, not for his company nor any other crew member, to highlight the plight of the 20,000 innocent seafarers who remain stranded on about 800 ships in the strait of Hormuz, unable to escape.Other ships are sitting at anchor in nearby ports. The waterway, which normally carries a fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquid gas supplies, has been virtually shut since the US and Israel first launched strikes on Iran on 28 February.Safe at home with his family, his thoughts often return to his fellow seafarers in the gulf, who have been left at the mercy of a protracted geopolitical crisis that, despite a ceasefire, shows no sign of being resolved soon.“My fellow seafarers are suffering,” he says. “They are trapped, worse than prisoners, without communication, with limited food and water.”Echoing the words of the UN secretary general, António Guterres, who called for the implementation of a coordinated plan to evacuate the seafarers, Basis called for countries to sit down and work out how to best get the trapped mariners home.Ships anchored in the strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in Iran. About 800 vessels, crewed by 20,000 seafarers, remain stranded. Photograph: Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/AFP/Getty“It is now the time for all the member states in the shipping sector to do what they need to do to allow our seafarers to escape the strait of Hormuz,” says Basis. “These are the people who kept the global economy going through the pandemic. They are innocent victims.”Since the conflict began on 28 February, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has seen a tenfold increase in seafarers needing help, from 200 to 2,000 cases.Mohamed Arrachedi, ITF’s flag of convenience coordinator for the Arab world and Iran, says he has 70 WhatsApp messages requiring immediate attention. Most want repatriation, away from conflict zones, others are seeking unpaid wages, including cases where they have been abandoned by shipowners, and others are reporting shortages of food. They are, he says, in increasing distress.“When you are speaking to a 45-year-old man with a family and he is in tears, saying ‘my life is in your hands’, but you can’t promise any solution, it is a difficult situation,” Arrachedi says.“The seafarers are telling the world, our lives are in danger They need protection. All governments must come together and find a solution,” he adds.V Ships Asia, the MKD Vyom’s management company, says the incident had sadly resulted in the death of a “greatly valued crew member”.* Name changed at the request of the interviewee Additional reporting by Sajad Hameed

# Confirmed Incidents — Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East **Source:** IMO **As at:** 8 May 2026 - **Confirmed incidents:** 33 - **Confirmed seafarer fatalities:** 10 | Date | Ship Name (IMO Number) | Location | Description | |---|---|---|---| | 6 May | HASNA (IMO 9212917) | Gulf of Oman | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 5 May | CMA CGM SAN ANTONIO (IMO 9294173) | 30 NM north east of Dibba Al-Fujairah, UAE | Damaged. No pollution. Eight seafarers injured. | | 3 May | TMO BARAKAH (IMO 9902615) | 78NM north of Fujairah, UAE | Damaged. No pollution. Vessel abandoned. | | 3 May | MINOAN FALCON (IMO 9605841) | 11NM west of Sirik, Islamic Republic of Iran | Damaged. No pollution. | | 22 April | EUPHORIA (IMO 9235828) | 8NM west of Islamic Republic of Iran | Minor damage. No pollution. No injuries. | | 22 April | MSC FRANCESCA (IMO 9401116) | 15NM north east of Oman | Damaged. No pollution. Vessel detained. | | 22 April | EPAMINONDAS (IMO 9153862) | 15NM north east of Oman | Damaged. No pollution. Vessel detained. | | 19 April | TOUSKA (IMO 9328900) | 45 NM southeast of Chabahar, Islamic Republic of Iran | Damaged. No pollution. Vessel seized. | | 18 April | CMA CGM EVERGLADE (IMO 9894985) | 22NM North of Kumzar, Oman | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 18 April | SANMAR HERALD (IMO 9330563) | 19NM North of Kumzar, Oman | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 7 April | GOLD AUTUMN (IMO 9220483) | 112NM south east of Ras Al | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 7 April | QINGDAO STAR (IMO 9318163) | 25NM south of Kish Island, Islamic Republic of Iran | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 1 April | AQUA 1 (IMO 9573660) | 17NM north of Ras Laffan, Qatar | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 30 March | AL SALMI (IMO 9534793) | 31NM NW of Dubai, UAE | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 28 March | SUNNY 77 (IMO 8357368) | Near Duqm, Oman | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 19 March | HALUL 50 (IMO 9602796) | 4NM east of Ras Laffan, Qatar | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 16 March | GAS AL AHMADIAH (IMO 9849629) | 23NM east of Fujairah, UAE | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 12 March | SOURCE BLESSING (IMO 9243198) | 35NM north of Jebel Ali, UAE | Damaged. No pollution. No injuries. | | 11 March | ZEFYROS (IMO 9515917) | Near Khor Al Zubair Port, Iraq | Attack on SAFESEA VISHNU caused collateral damage (fire). No injuries. | | 11 March | SAFESEA VISHNU (IMO 9327009) | Near Khor Al Zubair Port, Iraq | Impact caused fire. One seafarer fatality. | | 11 March | STAR GWYNETH (IMO 9301031) | 50NM north-west of Dubai | Damage to cargo holds and forecastle. No injuries. | | 11 March | MAYUREE NAREE (IMO 9323649) | 11NM north of Oman | Fire on board. Three seafarer fatalities. | | 11 March | ONE MAJESTY (IMO 9424912) | 25NM north-west of Ra's al Khaymah, UAE | Hull damage. No injuries. | | 7 March | ARABIA III (IMO 8771332) | Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia | One seafarer injured. | | 6 March | MUSSAFAH 2 (IMO 9522051) | 6NM north of Oman | Four seafarer fatalities. Three severely injured. | | 5 March | SONANGOL NAMIBE (IMO 9325049) | 30NM south east of Mubarak Al Kabeer, Kuwait | Hull breach. No injuries. | | 4 March | SAFEEN PRESTIGE (IMO 9593517) | 2NM north of Oman | Sunk. Oil slick detected. No injuries. | | 3 March | GOLD OAK (IMO 9806342) | 7NM east of Fujairah, UAE | Steel plating damage. No injuries. | | 3 March | LIBRA TRADER (IMO 9562673) | 10NM east of Fujairah, UAE | Minor damage. No injuries. | | 1 March | STENA IMPERATIVE (IMO 9666077) | At Berth, Port of Bahrain | One shipyard worker fatality. Two shipyard workers seriously injured. | | 1 March | HERCULES STAR (IMO 9916135) | 17 NM NW of Mina Saqr, UAE | Fire on board. No injuries. | | 1 March | MKD VYOM (IMO 9284386) | 52 NM NW of Muscat, Oman | One seafarer fatality. | | 1 March | SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020) | 5 NM N of Khasab, Oman | Four seafarers injured. One seafarer fatality. One seafarer missing. |

#IndiaMatters | An explosive-laden Iranian drone boat struck an oil tanker MKD VYOM off the coast of Oman. @shivaroor explains

A Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker became the first ship to be struck by an Iranian uncrewed surface vessel (USV) during this conflict, the Ambrey maritime security firm told us. As we have frequently reported, USVs have been widely used by Ukraine against Russia and, in the Middle East, by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against commercial shipping. You can catch up with our latest coverage of Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran in our rolling coverage here. The ship, the MKD VYOM, was initially thought to have been struck by a projectile on March 1, in a deadly attack about 50 nautical miles north of Muscat, Oman. However, the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization, which is managed by the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, gave an updated assessment of the incident Monday morning. “UKMTO has received confirmation that the vessel was attacked by an Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV), and that the crew has been evacuated to shore,” the organization stated. “Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.” UKMTO WARNING 005-26 UPDATE 001 – ATTACK Click here to view the full advisory ⤵ ⤵ https://t.co/rxIpVTmKV7#MaritimeSecurity#MarSecpic.twitter.com/fh32WoysAp — UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) March 2, 2026 “The vessel suffered an explosion and subsequent fire after being struck by a suspected projectile while off the coast of Muscat, Oman on 1 March,” MKD VYOM‘s owner, V.Ships Asia said in a statement. “It is with great sadness that we confirm one crew member, who was in the engine room at the time of the incident, has died.” أعلن المركز العُماني للأمن البحري تعرّض ناقلة النفط MKD VYOM لهجوم بواسطة زورق محمّل بالمتفجرات أثناء إبحارها على بُعد 52 ميلا بحرياً من سواحل محافظة مسقط. pic.twitter.com/XUABktn3kt — الجريدة (@aljarida) March 2, 2026 While this is the first time Iran has used a USV to strike ships in the region, it should come as no surprise that it would deploy these weapons. Iran has steadily developed USVs and undersea vehicles capable of launching kamikaze attacks and added them to its arsenal. Iran, together with its Houthi allies in Yemen, has long been a pioneer in this space. As we have previously reported, the Houthis frequently used USVs in their campaign against Red Sea shipping. We are seeing the first image of the Houthi drone boat that struck the bulk cargo carrier M/V Tutor. The first image of the Houthi drone boat that struck the bulk cargo carrier M/V Tutor in June 2024. The ongoing war in Ukraine has now fully demonstrated the very real threats these capabilities present to ships and coastal targets — even aircraft. The MKD VYOM was one of at least four ships struck by Iran since the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it was shutting down the Strait of Hormuz some 150 nautical miles to the northwest. That warning came after the U.S. and Israel started bombing Iranian targets on Feb. 28. We have previously examined in great detail what Iran could do to shut the Strait, a major chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s crude oil passes. “For your information, from now on…no ship of any type is…allowed to pass from the Strait of Hormuz.. From now on, the Strait of Hormuz is banned for all ships, the Strait of Hormuz is banned for all ships,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, via a radio transmission obtained by The War Zone. The IRGC updated that warning on Monday, saying it was shutting the Strait and any ships attempting to pass through would be set on fire. “The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to ​pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set ​those ships ablaze,” Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards commander-in-chief, ⁠said in remarks carried by state media. BREAKING: Islamic Revolutionary Guards commander says that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed and that Iran will set fire to any ship trying to pass, according to Iranian media – Reuters pic.twitter.com/ra0B2x5oWq — Faytuks News (@Faytuks) March 2, 2026 In addition to three other tankers hit in the Gulf of Oman, the U.S.flagged oil tanker STENA IMPERATIVE suffered at least two direct hits from a suspected Iranian projectile while in the Port of Bahrain on Monday, a maritime security official confirmed to The War Zone. It is unclear at the moment if the ship was struck by a missile or a drone, the official added. ⭕ ⭕ ⚡ ⚡ IRGC hit the US Navy-operated Oil tanker "Stena Imperative" docked in Bahrain. �� �� An IRGC Drone Ababil flew over the vessel a few weeks ago over the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM condemned the incident back then. https://t.co/1bGw6IQ4e7pic.twitter.com/buTP70JVfW — MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) March 2, 2026 Shortly before 5:30 a.m. Eastern, UKMTO stated that it “received a report of an incident in the Port of Bahrain. The Company Security Officer reported that the vessel had been struck by two unknown projectiles causing a fire. The fire has been extinguished and the vessel remains in port. All members of the ship’s crew are safe and have evacuated the vessel. Authorities are investigating.” “Vessels are to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” the organization added. UKMTO ADVISORY 008-26 – ATTACK Click here to view the full Advisory ⤵ ⤵ https://t.co/4ZVPSMeHOS#MaritimeSecurity#MarSecpic.twitter.com/KwsKNWPBY2 — UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) March 2, 2026 It is believed that the STENA IMPERATIVE is the only U.S.-flagged vessel to be struck by Iran so far. It has been reported that the tanker is part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program, which “exists to enhance U.S. supply chain resiliency for liquid fuel products.” The Tanker Security Program came into effect in 2021 and empowered the Department of Transportation to create an ad-hoc 10-ship expanded U.S.-flagged tanker fleet for use in a crisis. The only US-flagged tanker currently in the Middle East region is STENA IMPERATIVE (9666077). She is part of the US Navy's TSP (Tanker Security Program). A strategic vessel. A strategic target.#OOTT #Tankers #Iran https://t.co/z7zMmaD0DH pic.twitter.com/ZElroKz2jb — TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) February 3, 2026 Weeks before the war broke out, the STENA IMPERATIVE was approached by Iranian gunboats, which threatened to board the vessel, in the Strait of Hormuz, before continuing on its way under military escort, according to CBS News. U.S. Central Command issued a statement at the time confirming the incident, saying, “Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Imperative at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker.” CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins told CBS that the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul immediately responded to the scene and escorted the ship with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force. “The situation de-escalated as a result, and the U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely,” he said. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Since the launch of Epic Fury, shipping traffic through this vital body of water has plummeted by almost 85%, and a large number of ships have turned off their transponders to avoid being tracked. New: Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen almost 85%, @Kpler's @DimAmpatzidis tells Hunterbrook. "Since 00:00 UTC today, only six vessels have crossed the Strait with AIS signals active." One of those vessels has since been bombed by Iran. pic.twitter.com/offUWTYGic — Hunterbrook (@hntrbrkmedia) March 2, 2026 While Iran attacks tankers, the U.S. is striking Iranian Navy vessels. U.S. President Donald Trump has said “annihilating” Iran’s naval forces is a core objective of Epic Fury and that 10 Iranian ships have been “knocked out” so far. Below is a satellite image showing damage to Iran’s main naval base in Bandar Abbas, including what looks to be the IRINS Makran sea base-type ship, following strikes as part of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign. You can read more about that in our story here. A satellite image of the aftermath of U.S. attacks on the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. (PHOTO © 2026 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION) A satellite image of the aftermath of U.S. attacks on the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. (PHOTO © 2026 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION) While no one knows how much longer Epic Fury will last, this war will continue presenting major danger to commercial shipping. Update: 5:51PM EST- A U.S. official tells The War Zone that while the IRGC claims they’ve closed the Strait, U.S. monitoring of the body of water does not back that up.

Three Indian nationals were killed in Iranian attacks on two merchant vessels in the waters off the coast of Oman on Monday. One of the Indian nationals has reportedly been identified as 25-year-old Dixit Solanki, a resident of Mumbai. Solanki was aboard the MKD VYOM vessel that was hit by a projectile. The Indian embassy in Oman confirmed the ‘tragic demise of an Indian national' in a social media post. Read more: LINK IN BIO! #Oman #OmanCoast #IndianNational #MiddleEastTensions

Last journey home of Indian seafarer killed in war Thirty-five days after Solanki became the first Indian to get killed in the West Asia war, his father and sister waited through the night at Mumbai airport, documents in hand, doubts still unresolved. The Indian Express was there when they received his mortal remains. Mitali Solanki did not sleep on the night of April 4. She sat with a pile of documents, checking and rechecking, charging her phone and a power bank. Thirty-five days after her brother Dixit Solanki, a 32-year-old seafarer, died aboard a vessel caught in the West Asia conflict, his remains were finally making their way back to Mumbai. Nothing should go wrong now, she said. At 1.30 am, the family got a series of messages — from the Directorate General of Shipping, V Ships India Pvt Ltd, and the Indian embassy and consulate in Dubai. All of them conveyed what they were waiting to know: Solanki’s remains would arrive at the international airport cargo terminal at 4.15 am. By 3.30 am, Mitali and her father Amratlal were in a car. They reached the terminal by 4 am and were told to return after an hour. They did not leave. It had already been three days since the family had moved the Bombay High Court for the repatriation of Solanki’s remains, filing an urgent plea citing weeks of delay and silence. The family believes that this move was what finally got things moving — the matter is scheduled to be heard April 6 by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad. Sunday was yet to dawn but the cargo section at the terminal was busy, consignments moving under dim lights while father and daughter stood outside completing paperwork, coordinating with officials by phone, waiting for clearances that came one by one across the next several hours. When an official arrived around 6.45 am to process additional documentation, a pass was finally issued, but only one family member could go inside. “I will go,” said Amratlal. “I want to see everything. How he is brought, what is being brought.” It took nearly two more hours — a first round inside, a trip to Sahar police station to submit documents, a return to the terminal, another round of verification — before the coffin was finally handed over. When Amratlal emerged from the cargo area, Mitali rushed toward the ambulance waiting outside, reaching out to touch the box that carried her brother’s remains. They checked the name and details written on the surface, made sure the documentation matched, and stood there for a moment before the ambulance moved toward the mortuary. Father Amratlal Solanki and sister Mitali Solanki received the skeletal remains of seafarer Dixit Solanki on Sunday morning (April 5, 2026) at the Mumbai International Airport's cargo section. (Express Photo/Ganesh Shirsekar) Father Amratlal Solanki and sister Mitali Solanki received the skeletal remains of seafarer Dixit Solanki on Sunday morning (April 5, 2026) at the Mumbai International Airport’s cargo section. (Express Photo/Ganesh Shirsekar) The family has decided not to proceed with the last rites until a DNA test confirms the identity of the remains. They have sought help from the Directorate General of Shipping and the shipping company, both of whom have assured support. A senior official from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said necessary arrangements for the test were being explored. It was on March 1 that Solanki became the first Indian casualty in the conflict following a missile strike that led to an explosion and fire on board the oil tanker MKD Vyom in the Arabian Sea, about 70 nautical miles off Oman’s capital Muscat. “We have waited for over 35 days. We can wait a few more days,” Mitali said. “We will only put him to rest once all our doubts are cleared. We do not want to live the rest of our lives with the question — what if these were not his remains?” Story continues below this ad Dixit Solanki, a 32-year-old seafarer, died aboard a vessel caught in the West Asia conflict. (Express Photo) Dixit Solanki, a 32-year-old seafarer, died aboard a vessel caught in the West Asia conflict. (Express Photo) She said those doubts had been shaped by what had transpired. According to the family, when Amratlal went to meet the rescued crew members who had returned to Mumbai, he was not allowed to speak to them directly, or to record any conversation. The shipping company’s internal investigation report, which the family had been requesting for weeks, was shared with them only on April 4, the day before the remains arrived. “From the photos in the report, the ship does not appear to be severely damaged,” Amratlal said. “None of the crew who returned seem to have lost their belongings. But we have still not received my son’s personal items such as his trolley bag, his laptop, his phone, his hard drives. Nothing.” The remains are now at the mortuary, and the family is ready to file an FIR at the local police station to initiate the DNA testing process. “The compensation and money do not matter when a son is lost,” Solanki’s father said. “If he had earned and brought that money home himself, it would have been different. How can we use money that comes from his death?”

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Dikshit Solanki, a 25-year-old Indian sailor from Kandivali, Mumbai, was working as an oiler on the oil tanker MT MKD Vyom when a drone attack near the coast of Oman on 1 March 2026 caused an explosion in the engine room, leading to his death. His body reached home after 48 days and his last rites were performed at Dhanukarwadi cremation ground

Mumbai seafarer killed in Gulf of Oman attack laid to rest over a month later A police officer said the forensic science laboratory in Kalina submitted the DNA report on Friday, confirming the remains as Solanki’s, following which the family conducted the final rites in Mumbai Published on: Apr 19, 2026 5:46 AM IST By HT Correspondent MUMBAI: The family of Dixit Solanki, who died in a suspected missile or drone strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on March 1, performed his last rites on Saturday after DNA tests confirmed his identity, over a month after his death. Mumbai seafarer killed in Gulf of Oman attack laid to rest over a month later Mumbai seafarer killed in Gulf of Oman attack laid to rest over a month later A police officer said the forensic science laboratory in Kalina submitted the DNA report on Friday, confirming the remains as Solanki’s, following which the family conducted the final rites in Mumbai. Attempts to reach his father went unanswered till the time of going to press. Solanki, a Kandivali resident working as an oiler in the engine room, died on March 1 after an explosion tore through the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker. The vessel had departed Europe on February 8 and was bound for Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, and was struck near the Muscat coast in the Gulf of Oman, a region witnessing heightened maritime tensions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict. The attack, suspected to involve a missile or explosive-laden drone, breached the vessel and triggered a blast in the engine room. Solanki was declared dead by the ship’s master, marking the first reported Indian casualty in the recent maritime hostilities in the region. The rest of the crew was rescued. The family faced a prolonged wait for the return of his remains, leading his father Amratlal Solanki and sister Mitali to approach the Bombay High Court. Even after the remains reached Mumbai, the family was, however, sceptical about the identity of the “few charred bones”, prompting their counsel, advocate Pradnya Talekar, to file an application seeking for confirmation of post-mortem findings and DNA authentication, contending that it was very difficult to even ascertain if the remains were that of a man or a woman. The Centre, represented by advocate Rui Rodrigues, informed the court that the Directorate General of Shipping had sought help from forensic labs in Hyderabad and Mumbai. Following a high court directive on April 7, the remains were sent to the Kalina FSL for DNA testing, which confirmed Solanki’s identity, allowing the family to finally perform his last rites.

West Asia conflict: Family of Oman victim Dixit Solanki moves Bombay HC for DNA test Updated On: 07 April, 2026 08:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur The family of Kandivali resident Dixit Solanki, who died in an Oman ship attack, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking a DNA test for identification. His remains are currently kept at a funeral facility as the family awaits closure Dixit Solanki, the first Indian casualty in Oman linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, was brought home to his family at 7 am on Sunday. While the Indian government confirmed his death and the family obtained a death certificate, they moved the Bombay High Court on Monday seeking permission for DNA testing. Residents of Kandivli’s Mahavir Nagar told mid-day that the Solankis kept to themselves but were known to be kind. Neighbour Speak Naina Lal Prajapati, a resident who works at Raj Kamal General Store opposite the Solanki home, said, “Dixit would come to our shop to buy things, though the interactions between us were always brief, he would be very kind and well spoken. The news was shocking to us, and we all in the area hope that the family gets the closure they need and deserve.” Another neighbour living two houses away said the family’s request for DNA testing was understandable. “It is not easy to accept the death of a loved one, especially when they cannot even identify him. The family has become more withdrawn since the news,” the neighbour said. Current status Sources from Charkop police station said the mortal remains of the 33-year-old have been kept at John Pinto International Private Limited, a funeral services facility, for now. What happened on board >> Ship MKD Vyome had 92 people on board >> 17 were Indian nationals >> Dixit Solanki was working as an oiler near the engine during the attack >> The initial fire was partly controlled by the crew >> Fire later intensified, trapping Dixit and leading to his death >> 91 people jumped off and were rescued by MT Sand, a ship bound for Muscat >> Remains were moved from Muscat to the UAE, where the Malta-based company conducted forensic procedures

West Asia conflict: Family of Oman victim Dixit Solanki moves Bombay HC for DNA test Updated On: 07 April, 2026 08:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur The family of Kandivali resident Dixit Solanki, who died in an Oman ship attack, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking a DNA test for identification. His remains are currently kept at a funeral facility as the family awaits closure Dixit Solanki, the first Indian casualty in Oman linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, was brought home to his family at 7 am on Sunday. While the Indian government confirmed his death and the family obtained a death certificate, they moved the Bombay High Court on Monday seeking permission for DNA testing. Residents of Kandivli’s Mahavir Nagar told mid-day that the Solankis kept to themselves but were known to be kind. Neighbour Speak Naina Lal Prajapati, a resident who works at Raj Kamal General Store opposite the Solanki home, said, “Dixit would come to our shop to buy things, though the interactions between us were always brief, he would be very kind and well spoken. The news was shocking to us, and we all in the area hope that the family gets the closure they need and deserve.” Another neighbour living two houses away said the family’s request for DNA testing was understandable. “It is not easy to accept the death of a loved one, especially when they cannot even identify him. The family has become more withdrawn since the news,” the neighbour said. Current status Sources from Charkop police station said the mortal remains of the 33-year-old have been kept at John Pinto International Private Limited, a funeral services facility, for now. What happened on board >> Ship MKD Vyome had 92 people on board >> 17 were Indian nationals >> Dixit Solanki was working as an oiler near the engine during the attack >> The initial fire was partly controlled by the crew >> Fire later intensified, trapping Dixit and leading to his death >> 91 people jumped off and were rescued by MT Sand, a ship bound for Muscat >> Remains were moved from Muscat to the UAE, where the Malta-based company conducted forensic procedures

MUMB AI: A day after the charred remains of seafarer Dixit Solanki were brought to Mumbai from Sharjah, his family has refused to perform the last rites, insisting on DNA confirmation to establish his identity. Solanki, who was killed in a suspected The remains of seafarer Dixit Solanki arrived in Mumbai missile or drone attack on an oil tanker off from Sharjah on Sunday. Solanki died in an alleged… ...................................................... ................................ the Oman coast during the ongoing West Asia conflict, is believed to be among the first Indian casualties in the maritime tensions. His father, Amratlal Solanki, and sister Mitali received the remains at Mumbai airport early Sunday after securing clearance from Sahar police. Instead of taking the body home to their Kandivli residence, the family transported it directly to JJ Hospital in Byculla, seeking scientific verification. “We want a DNA test and written confirmation, ” touch with authorities. Mitali said, adding that the family is in The family’s advocate is expected to move the B ombay high court seeking directions to send samples to the Kalina forensic laboratory, arguing that there is no conclusive proof yet establishing the identity of the remains. However, the family claims they have not been provided with any documented DNA confirmation. Police said all formalities, including death certificate, embalming certificate and consulate clearances, were completed before the remains were handed over. “The body was released within 30 minutes of arrival after due verification, ” an officer said. The case traces back to March 1, when the vessel MT MKD Vyom was hit by an explosive- laden drone boat in the Gulf of Oman. Solanki, who worked as an oiler, died in the blast. The family had earlier approached the high court seeking expeditious repatriation of the remains, citing lack of clarity and delay by authorities. The coffin reached Mumbai within three days of the plea, but the focus has now shifted to confirming identity before the final rites. Adding to the family’s distress, this is the second bereavement in recent months, with Solanki’s mother having passed away just three months ago.

Family mourns seafarer killed on oil tanker off Oman coast The Solanki family in north Mumbai is coming to terms with two deaths in as many months, after its youngest member was killed when a bomb-carrying drone boat struck an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Dixit Amritlal Solanki, a 33-year-old seafarer from Kandivali, died after the oil tanker was hit by an unmanned boat 52 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat Governorate on Monday. Dixit had come to Mumbai over a month ago for his mother’s last rites, according to Suresh Solanki of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI). “His father, Amritlal, a former seaman, is not in a position to speak after this double tragedy,” Solanki said. Dixit Solanki was working as an oiler on the tanker and was initially reported missing after the blast. His elder sister lives in Dubai. The seafarer’s neighbours said he had only recently resumed work at sea after taking time off following the death of his mother. They described him as a hardworking young man who had taken up the demanding life of a merchant navy professional to support his family.

Why family of first Indian killed in West Asia war fought for over a month to bring his body home FP Explainers • April 6, 2026, 16:28:09 IST After an agonising wait for 35 days, Dixit Solanki’s family in India finally got his mortal remains. The 32-year-old seafarer was the first Indian casualty of the war in West Asia, who was killed in a suspected missile strike on a merchant vessel off the Oman coast last month. Back home, his family has decided not to conduct his last rites yet A family’s 35-day wait for the mortal remains of an Indian seafarer killed in the war in West Asia has come to an end. The body of Dixit Solanki, a 32-year-old who died in a suspected missile strike on a merchant vessel off the Oman coast last month, reached Mumbai on Sunday (April 5). And his family was there, waiting for their lost loved one to return home. However, the Solankis have decided not to go ahead with Dixit’s last rites until a DNA test confirms his identity. Here’s the heartbreaking tale of the Solanki family’s struggle to bring back the remains of the young man — India’s first casualty in the war in West Asia. Dixit Solanki killed in Iran war Dixit Solanki was an oiler on the tanker MT MKD Vyom in the Arabian Sea, which came under attack during the early days of the Iran war. He died on March 1 after an explosion and fire erupted on the vessel, believed to be triggered by a missile strike, about 70 nautical miles off Muscat, Oman. A casualty report shared with Solanki’s family by the ship’s manager, V Ships India Pvt Ltd, stated that the oil tanker was carrying about 59,000 metric tonnes of gasoline. A blast occurred on the vessel’s starboard side above the waterline, resulting in a hull breach and a fire in the engine room, reported Indian Express. At the time of the incident, Dixit was working in the engine room. He was initially reported missing but was later found near the hull breach. The ship’s master then declared him dead. With this, Dixit became the first Indian casualty in the conflict in West Asia. The 21 crew members onboard the vessel abandoned it following the explosion and were rescued by another tanker. On March 3, the shipping company informed officials at the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) that the oil tanker had been abandoned and was being towed towards Khor Fakkan or Fujairah. It also said that the vessel was unmanned and was difficult to board due to safety concerns. Solankis’ efforts to bring back their loved one Amid a lack of information, Dixit’s sister Mitali Solanki, 33, flagged the matter to authorities on March 4. “We are still without concrete information regarding Dixit Solanki’s status, and this uncertainty is causing our family immense distress,” she wrote in an email. In letters dated March 5 and 8 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the seafarer’s family said they were yet to receive his body, which continued to be onboard the ill-fated oil tanker at the time. They urged the government to work together with international authorities and ensure that Dixit’s mortal remains are brought back at the earliest for conducting his final rites. On March 18, the shipping company informed the family that Dixit’s body had been retrieved and was with forensic authorities. Later, through the Indian Consulate in Dubai, the family got to know that the skeletal remains were to be handed over to the Sharjah Police local authorities for formalities to obtain a death certificate. As Dixit’s remains had still not come back, his family moved the Bombay High Court on April 2, seeking urgent intervention, as per the Indian Express report. The petition by his father, Amratlal Gokal Solanki (64), and sister, Mitali, alleged a lack of clarity from authorities over the recovery of the seaman’s body. Citing Article 21 of the Constitution, which maintains the right to dignity extends even after death, they sought directions to expedite the repatriation of Dixit’s remains. They also asked for all investigation and forensic records to be shared with them. The matter was scheduled to be heard on April 6 by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad. “It has been 33 days. I want answers. What exactly happened to my son? I can’t imagine how he suffered, whether he was still alive, whether he was left there to die. All we want is his remains with valid certificates and an entire investigation report of the incident along with photo and video evidence,” Amratlal told Indian Express last week. On April 2, the Consulate shared the death certificate with the family and sought a notarised authorisation letter. The family submitted the required document the next day. Last week, Captain PC Meena, Deputy Director General of Shipping, ordered the shipping company to arrange the earliest possible flight to transport Dixit’s remains. Finally, on Sunday (April 5), the family’s wait for their loved one was over. At 4:15 am, a heavy wooden crate carrying Dixit’s remains arrived at Mumbai International Airport’s cargo terminal. As per an Indian Express report, the father and daughter waited outside the terminal for hours, completing paperwork, coordinating with officials by phone, and waiting for clearances. Around 6.45 am, an official came to process additional documentation, only after which a pass was issued. As only one family member could go inside, Amratlal chose to go. “I want to see everything. How he is brought, what is being brought.” The formalities took two more hours. After the father went inside the terminal, the family had to visit the Sahar police station to submit documents and then return to the terminal. Again, there was verification. The coffin was finally handed over. As her father came from the cargo area, Mitali rushed toward the ambulance waiting outside to touch the box carrying her brother’s mortal remains. After they checked the name and details written on the box and ensured the documentation matched, the ambulance took the body to the mortuary. No last rites yet Dixit’s family has refused to conduct the last rites until a DNA test confirms the identity of the remains. They have approached the Directorate General of Shipping and the shipping company, with both promising support, reported Indian Express. A senior official from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways told the newspaper that necessary arrangements were being planned for the test. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The family has expressed doubts as they claim Amratlal was not allowed to speak directly to the rescued crew members of the vessel after they returned to Mumbai, or to record any conversation. Dixit’s father had previously told NDTV, “There is a picture of Dixit in the house, but I haven’t put a garland on it yet. Until I see my son’s body with my own eyes, I will not believe he is gone. We haven’t been told clearly what happened. They say there was an attack, but why didn’t the ship’s siren go off? I have so many questions that haven’t been answered.” The family was provided access to the shipping company’s internal investigation report only a day before the remains arrived. “From the photos in the report, the ship does not appear to be severely damaged,” Amratlal told the newspaper. “None of the crew who returned seem to have lost their belongings. But we have still not received my son’s personal items such as his trolley bag, his laptop, his phone, his hard drives. Nothing.” STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reports say the family’s advocate is likely to ask the Bombay High Court to send the DNA samples to the Kalina forensic laboratory, arguing there is no conclusive proof to establish identity of the remains. “We have waited for over 35 days. We can wait a few more days,” Mitali said. “We will only put him to rest once all our doubts are cleared. We do not want to live the rest of our lives with the question — what if these were not his remains?”

Mumbai Family's 35-Day Nightmare Before Sailor's Homecoming In A CoffinThe Indian sailor's family is now demanding a formal DNA test to prove the identity of the body before any final rites are performed. Mumbai: At 4:15 am on April 5, while the city slept, a heavy wooden crate arrived at Mumbai International Airport's cargo terminal. It carried the body of 33-year-old Dixit Solanki, the first Indian sailor killed in an attack off the Oman coast last month during the Iran war. For his father, Amritlal, and sister, Mitali, this was the end of a grueling 35-day wait that began on March 1, when a missile strike on the oil tanker MT MKD Vyom turned a routine voyage into a national tragedy. Yet, as the sun rose over the terminal, the relief of his return was eclipsed by a cold, haunting uncertainty. The Refusal of the Last Rites In a move that underscores a deep mistrust of the official narrative, the Solanki family has made the heartbreaking decision to halt the funeral. Instead of a crematorium, the body was moved to a city mortuary. The family is now demanding a formal DNA test to prove the identity of the body before any final rites are performed. This demand is not merely born out of grief, but of a month filled with "red flags" including the fact that while other rescued crew members returned with their belongings, Dixit's laptop, phone, and personal journals have vanished. LATEST LIVE: "Stand By High Command Decision:" KC Venugopal On Kera Trump's 'Great Leader' Praise For Xi, Calls For 'Fantastic' Congress Picks VD Satheesan Over KC Venugopal As Kerala Chie Woman Gang-Raped Inside Bus In Delhi, Driver And Conductor A 3 IPL Captains Likely To Lose Their Jobs. Report Makes Sensa VD Satheesan: The Man Who Saved Congress - And Yet Almost Go Why Trisha's Karuppu 9 am Shows Were Cancelled Amid Vijay Af In Araghchi's India Visit, A #Minab168 Reminder For World China's Door Will Open Wider To US Businesses: Xi Jinping Te Pune Woman Says Cafe Staff Got Number From QR Menu Sent Late Malayalam Actor Meera Says Wasted 17 Years Of Life On '3 Stu US, China Could 'Come Into Conflict' Over Taiwan: Xi's Big W Amid NEET Row, Vijay Says "Abolish" Exam, Admit Students Wit LIVE: "Stand By High Command Decision:" KC Venugopal On Kera Trump's 'Great Leader' Praise For Xi, Calls For 'Fantastic' Congress Picks VD Satheesan Over KC Venugopal As Kerala Chie Woman Gang-Raped Inside Bus In Delhi, Driver And Conductor A 3 IPL Captains Likely To Lose Their Jobs. Report Makes Sensa VD Satheesan: The Man Who Saved Congress - And Yet Almost Go Why Trisha's Karuppu 9 am Shows Were Cancelled Amid Vijay Af In Araghchi's India Visit, A #Minab168 Reminder For World China's Door Will Open Wider To US Businesses: Xi Jinping Te Pune Woman Says Cafe Staff Got Number From QR Menu Sent Late Malayalam Actor Meera Says Wasted 17 Years Of Life On '3 Stu US, China Could 'Come Into Conflict' Over Taiwan: Xi's Big W Amid NEET Row, Vijay Says "Abolish" Exam, Admit Students Wit "I Will Not Believe He is Gone" This current stand for a DNA test is the culmination of skepticism Amritlal Solanki has held since the very beginning. Shortly after the accident on March 1, while speaking to NDTV, a grieving but firm Amritlal had questioned the entire incident. At that time, sitting in his Kandivali home with a garland-less photo of his son, he had stated - "There is a picture of Dixit in the house, but I haven't put a garland on it yet. Until I see my son's body with my own eyes, I will not believe he is gone. We haven't been told clearly what happened. They say there was an attack, but why didn't the ship's siren go off? I have so many questions that haven't been answered." A Battle for Truth in the High Court The journey from the coast of Oman to Mumbai was only made possible after the family moved the Bombay High Court last week, seeking to break the silence of the shipping company, V Ships India Pvt Ltd. For the Solankis, the fight is no longer about the cross-border conflict that took Dixit's life, it is a fight against the machinery of bureaucracy. As the High Court hears the matter today, April 6, the family remains in a state of suspended mourning waiting for science to confirm what their hearts have feared since that first phone call in March. A Neighborhood in Mourning In the MHB Colony of Mahavir Nagar, Dixit was known as a mild-mannered man who had returned to the sea to provide for his family following his mother's death. Today, his neighbours stand with a father who refuses to be silenced. For Amritlal Solanki, justice is not found in compensation, but in the certainty of a biological match. Until that truth is delivered, his long, lonely watch for his son continues.

48 days after death, Indian sailor Dixit Solanki, killed in Oman missile strike, finally cremated in Mumbai Solanki had died on March 1, 2025, on a merchant vessel in West Asia, making him the first Indian casualty of the ongoing conflict in the region. His remains reached Mumbai only on April 5, more than a month after his death. Forty-eight days after he was killed in a missile strike off the coast of Oman, the last rites of Indian sailor Dixit Solanki, a resident of Kandivali, Mumbai, were performed at the Dhanukarwadi cremation ground in Kandivali West on Saturday in the presence of close family members. Solanki had died on March 1, 2025, on a merchant vessel in West Asia, making him the first Indian casualty of the ongoing conflict in the region. His remains reached Mumbai only on April 5, more than a month after his death. “We finally laid him to rest today,” said his sister, Mitali Solanki, after the cremation held around 11 am. She added that the family struggled for weeks to establish the identity of the remains. The family carried out the cremation after receiving the DNA report a day earlier. The DNA report from the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories, Kalina, Mumbai, seen by The Indian Express, stated, “Black-coloured debris containing charred pieces (porous, brittle in nature) along with ash, garbage (like thin metallic wire, thermocol balls, etc.) having organic smell and oily in nature in one unsealed casket labelled Human Remains of Dixit Amratlal Solanki, Indian From Sharjah (UAΕ) to Bombay (India).” Fifteen charred pieces were collected from one unsealed casket but “no amplifiable DNA is obtained” from any of them, it stated. “We tried our best to find evidence whether it was Dixit’s remains or not, but nothing worked out. Officials informed us that DNA testing is typically not feasible in cases where remains are reduced to skeletal, charred bones. We were told that at this stage, DNA tests are usually not done, but since there was a court order, the authorities carried it out,” she said. The remains were handed over to the family on April 5, at Mumbai airport cargo terminal after being flown in from Sharjah. The family is yet to receive all the belongings of Solanki. The family had reached out to multiple authorities, including the Prime Minister’s Office, Directorate General of Shipping, V Ships India Pvt Ltd, and officials from the Indian embassy and consulate in Dubai regarding the return of the remains of Dixit since March 1. However, intimation came only after the family approached the Bombay High Court with an urgent plea, citing over a month delay and lack of communication from authorities. The remains were dispatched within three days after the petition was filed. The family said they will hold a prayer ceremony next week.

HC orders DNA tests on mortal remains of seafarer killed in Gulf attack A bench of chief justice Shree Chandrashekhar and justice Gautam Ankhad directed the deputy DG Shipping to collect the remains of the deceased seafarer from the mortuary of John Pinto International in Byculla, in the presence his family members, and send them to the FSL in Kalina and the central FSL in Hyderabad for DNA verification MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the deputy director general (DG), Shipping to collect the mortal remains of a Kandivali-based seafarer Dixit Solanki, who died in a suspected missile or drone attack on the oil tanker MT MKD Vyom in the Gulf of Oman, and send them to a forensic science laboratory (FSL) for DNA verification. Dixit Solanki, the seafarer who died in a suspected missile or drone attack on the oil tanker MT MKD Vyom in the Gulf of Oman. Dixit Solanki, the seafarer who died in a suspected missile or drone attack on the oil tanker MT MKD Vyom in the Gulf of Oman. A bench of chief justice Shree Chandrashekhar and justice Gautam Ankhad directed the deputy DG Shipping to collect the remains of the deceased seafarer from the mortuary of John Pinto International in Byculla, in the presence his family members, and send them to the FSL in Kalina and the central FSL in Hyderabad for DNA verification. “The copy of the report shall be supplied to the family as soon as possible,” the court said. The plea, filed Monday morning by Amratlal Solanki and Mitali Solanki (the father and sister of the deceased seaman) through advocate Satish B Talekar, raises serious concerns over the identification of the remains brought to Mumbai on April 5—35 days after the fatal incident—and seeks written confirmation of post-mortem findings and DNA authentication. They also contended that it was very difficult to ascertain whether the remains were male or female, as only skeletal fragments had been returned. More Stories Susan Boyle is So Skinny Now and Looks Gorgeous. Remember Him Wait Till You See Him Now 15 Most Beautiful Women Ever After Losing Weight, Pierce Brosnan's Wife Looks Like a Model Clavicular throws shade at Sydney Sweeney with viral edited photo; ‘Just a reminder’ post sparks backlash Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Dog Specialist: If Your Dog Licks Its Paws, Add This To Their Food In their petition, the family also stated that no documentation confirming post-mortem procedures or DNA identification was provided to them. Given the absence of any physical means to identify the remains, they have sought a court directive for DNA testing before performing the last rites. During the hearing on Tuesday, advocate Rui Rodrigues, appearing for the central government, DG Shipping, told the court that communications were sent on Monday night by the DG Shipping to the Maharashtra police and FSLs at Hyderabad and Kalina for further action. Rodrigues said the letters requested the police officials and the FSLs to facilitate the expeditious conduct of DNA testing of the remains through the concerned forensic authorities on priority, as sought by the family of the deceased. It added that considering the sensitive nature of the case, the condition of the remains, and the distress faced by the family, timely assistance from the state police machinery was crucial. Subsequently, the court ordered the deputy DG of Shipping to send the remains to FSLs in Kalina and Hyderabad for DNA verification. Dixit Solanki, a Kandivali resident working as an oiler in the engine room, died on March 1 after an explosion and fire tore through the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker. The vessel, which had departed Europe on February 8 and was bound for Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, was struck near the Muscat coast in the Gulf of Oman, a region witnessing heightened maritime tensions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict. Official records from DG Shipping described his death as being caused by “fatal injuries as a result of an exploding projectile”. Reports indicate that the attack, suspected to involve a missile or explosive-laden drone boat, created a breach in the vessel, triggering the blast in the engine room where Solanki, an oiler, was stationed. He was declared dead by the ship’s master, becoming the first reported Indian casualty in the recent escalation of maritime hostilities in the region. The remaining crew, including other Indians, were rescued safely. However, the circumstances surrounding the repatriation of his remains have led to distress and uncertainty for the family. The family had, even earlier, approached the high court after they anxiously waited for over a month to receive Dixit’s body, seeking orders to the central authorities to bring his mortal remains to India. Their petition, filed through advocate Pradnya Talekar, stated that the fundamental right to dignity extends to a person even after death and, hence, the authorities have a duty to ensure timely return of the mortal remains to the family. It also cited legal obligations under maritime regulations and guidelines requiring the repatriation of the body in cases of death at sea. Following this, the remains were brought to Mumbai on April 5.