Indian commercial vessel sinks after Red Sea attack, 14 crew rescued by Yemen Coast Guard

Indian commercial vessel sinks after Red Sea attack, 14 crew rescued by Yemen Coast Guard

An Indian commercial vessel sank in the Red Sea on Tuesday after being hit by a projectile off the coast of Yemen, but all 14 crew members were rescued, Indian authorities confirmed. The incident marks the latest attack on commercial shipping in one of the world's most critical maritime corridors.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the mechanised sailing vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya was struck near Yemeni waters on August 4, causing the ship to capsize and sink. All 13 Indian nationals and one additional crew member were safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and transported to the Port of Mokha, located on the Red Sea coast in southwestern Yemen approximately 75 kilometres from the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

"The safety of our people is our supreme priority," Sonowal said in a statement, adding that he had instructed the Director General of the Maritime Administration to work with relevant agencies to ensure the security of Indian seafarers in the region and provide all necessary assistance to the rescued crew.

The minister described the strike as an "unprovoked attack" on the "defenceless" vessel and said India strongly condemned the incident.

Strategic shipping route under sustained threat

The attack occurred in the Red Sea, a vital maritime corridor that handles 12 to 15 per cent of international maritime trade and nearly 30 per cent of global container traffic. The strategic importance of this route has made it a focal point of regional instability, with more than 100 separate attacks on commercial vessels affecting more than 60 nations recorded between November 2023 and October 2025.

The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea is only about 20 miles wide at its narrowest point, making it a strategic chokepoint within easy missile and drone range of western Yemen. This geographic vulnerability has exposed commercial shipping to various forms of attack, including unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vehicles, ballistic and cruise missiles, and illegal boardings.

In July 2025, two commercial vessels were attacked and sunk in the southern Red Sea, killing four seafarers. The successful rescue of all crew members in Tuesday's incident stands in contrast to that fatal episode.

India condemns attack, calls for maritime security

India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank in the Red Sea off Yemen's coast after coming under attack. The ministry said all 13 Indian nationals aboard had been rescued and that India's embassy in Riyadh was closely coordinating with Yemeni authorities to ensure the crew's safety and security. It also thanked Yemeni authorities for their assistance in the rescue operation.

The MEA described the continued attacks on commercial shipping in the region as "deeply worrisome" and called for an end to the targeting of merchant vessels. It urged the restoration of "free and unimpeded navigation and commerce" through international waterways in accordance with international law.

Impact on global trade

The security crisis in the Red Sea has forced many shipping companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the threatened waters. This alternative route requires ships to travel an extra 3,500 nautical miles, adding approximately 10 or more days to journey times between Asia and Europe, with significant implications for global supply chains and shipping costs.

The Indian Navy has deployed warships in the region and activated maritime security measures to protect Indian vessels and seafarers operating in these waters. Tuesday's incident underscores the persistent risks facing commercial shipping in the region and the challenges of maintaining safe passage through one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.