An Indian sailor lost his life following a crossfire incident involving a cargo vessel traveling from Dubai to Yemen.
Altaf Talab Ker was part of an 18-member crew aboard the ‘Al Faize Noor Suleimani’ when the vessel was caught in crossfire on Thursday. According to Adam Bhaya, General Secretary of the Indian Sailing Vessels Association, the incident occurred while the ship was navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
Ker, a resident of a town named Jam Salaya, was positioned near the engine room at the time of the shooting.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed the death via a statement on X, expressing sadness over the “unfortunate incident at sea”.
The Consulate stated that it is currently in contact with the ship’s owner to ascertain further details and has pledged to provide priority assistance and legal support.
The vessel, captained by Ameen Salemamad Sumbhania, had departed from Dubai on Wednesday afternoon. Following the attack, another vessel named ‘Prem Sagar’ intervened to rescue the remaining 17 crew members.
The survivors, all of whom are Indian nationals, were brought back to Dubai on Friday evening.
Bhaya has formally reached out to the Indian Consulate to seek support for Ker’s funeral arrangements and to expedite documentation procedures.
In his correspondence, Bhaya highlighted the impact of the event on the maritime community, noting that the “loss of an innocent Indian seafarer under such circumstances is deeply distressing”.
He urged authorities to ensure the well-being and safety of the surviving crew members who witnessed the event.
