India on Tuesday condemned an attack on an Indian-flagged commercial vessel that sank in the Red Sea off Yemen after being struck by a projectile, as New Delhi renewed calls for an end to attacks on merchant shipping in one of the world's busiest maritime corridors.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the mechanised sailing vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank off the Yemeni coast on Tuesday. All 13 Indian nationals on board were rescued, while another foreign crew member was also brought safely ashore by the Yemeni Coast Guard.
"We condemn the attack on the Indian-flagged commercial vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, that sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on August 4," the ministry said in a statement.
It said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety and security of the rescued crew, while thanking the Yemeni authorities for their support.
Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the incident as an "unprovoked attack" on a defenceless civilian vessel. He said the vessel was hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing it to capsize and sink.
"The safety of our people is our supreme priority," Sonowal said, adding that all 14 seafarers had been rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and taken to the port of Mokha. He said maritime authorities had been instructed to provide all necessary assistance to the crew and strengthen measures for the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region.
The MEA also voiced concern over the continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
"The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome," it said. "The targeting of commercial shipping must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest."
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks that have disrupted shipping through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital route linking Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal. The waterway carries roughly 12% of global seaborne trade, and repeated attacks have forced many shipowners to divert vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing voyage times and freight costs.
Indian naval forces have maintained a sustained presence in the region under Operation Sankalp, escorting merchant vessels and responding to threats to commercial shipping amid heightened regional tensions.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack, and Indian authorities did not identify the type of projectile that struck the vessel. The attack comes amid persistent security risks in the Red Sea, where merchant shipping has faced repeated missile, drone and other attacks linked to the wider conflict in the Middle East.
