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

An incident occurred in the Strait of Hormuz between the United Arab Emirates and Oman at 02.00 local time on 6 March 2026, after the UAE-flagged tug Musaffah 2 reportedly exploded, catching fire and sinking. Witnesses said the vessel sank in waters between the UAE and Oman. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said there were seven crew on the Musaffah 2, of which four were Indonesian, Indian, and Filipino nationals respectively. Heni Hamidah noted that four Indonesian nationals were aboard; one Indonesian national is reported to be safe and receiving burn treatment at a hospital in Khasab, Oman, while the other three Indonesians are still missing and being searched for by local authorities. A second Indonesian was on another vessel and is safe. The MoFA said it is coordinating with UAE and Oman authorities and with Safeen Prestige to locate the three missing Indonesians and to provide updates to their families in Indonesia, and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. The ministry also urged all Indonesians in the Middle East to remain vigilant and to keep in contact with Indonesian representations, and to contact the diplomatic hotline in an emergency.