Musaffah 2 Explodes in the Strait of Hormuz, 3 Indonesian Seafarers Missing

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — An explosion occurred on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. Three Indonesian seafarers were reported missing and are currently being searched for by local authorities.

The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in a statement released on Sunday (8 March 2026), said the incident involved a tug boat named Musaffah 2, registered under the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The incident occurred on 6 March 2026 at around 02:00 local time in waters between the UAE and Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz.

Witness accounts indicate that the vessel experienced an explosion that caused a fierce fire, ultimately leading to its sinking. To date, authorities in the UAE and Oman are still investigating the exact cause of the incident.

Musaffah 2 was known to have seven crew from Indonesia, India and the Philippines. Of those seven, three survived, while four were declared missing.

Among the Indonesian crew, one Indonesian national was reported to have survived and is currently receiving treatment for burns at a hospital in Khasab, Oman. Meanwhile, the three other Indonesian seafarers aboard Musaffah 2 remain missing and are being searched for by local authorities.

According to the survivor, the incident originated when the container ship Safeen Prestige sustained damage in waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The company then dispatched Musaffah 2 to inspect and assist in repairs of the damaged vessel.

After inspection, Safeen Prestige was deemed unrecoverable on site due to lack of power, so a towing operation was planned. As this towing operation was nearly completed, an explosion was reported on Musaffah 2, triggering a fire on the vessel including the bridge.

Currently, the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, together with the embassy in Muscat, is coordinating with local authorities and the company to support the search for the three missing Indonesians and to ensure proper handling of any survivors. Indonesian representatives have also informed the families of the incident in Indonesia of developments.

The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi urges all Indonesian citizens in the United Arab Emirates and nearby regions, including seafarers working at sea, to remain vigilant and monitor security developments through official information channels.