Three Indonesian crew missing after tugboat Musaffah 2 explodes in the Strait of Hormuz
Jakarta — Three Indonesian nationals who were crew members of tugboat Musaffah 2 have been declared missing and are now the subject of search and rescue operations. They disappeared after Musaffah 2 exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on 6 March 2026.
The spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu RI), Yvonne Mewengkang, said the ministry received reports of the incident involving Musaffah 2 from the Indonesian embassies in Abu Dhabi and Muscat. Yvonne noted that Musaffah 2 is a vessel flying the flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to Yvonne, Musaffah 2 had seven crew members, including four Indonesians. In addition, the ship carried six technicians, one of whom was Indonesian. Yvonne said the explosion occurred in the early hours of 6 March 2026, at a location between UAE and Oman waters.
‘Saat insiden tersebut kapal Musaffah 2 sedang melakukan pengecekan terhadap kapal kontainer Safine Prestige yang rusak. Berdasarkan saksi mata, Musaffah 2 mengalami ledakan yang menyebabkan kapal terbakar,’ she said in a statement on Sunday (8 March 2026).
She added that at the time of the explosion, four Indonesian crew were aboard Musaffah 2. Meanwhile, one Indonesian who was a technician was aboard the Safeen Prestige.
‘The status of the Indonesian nationals is: one Indonesian crew member has injuries and is receiving treatment in the Al-Khasab city hospital in Oman. And one Indonesian technician who survived is already in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, three Indonesian crew members are still being sought by local authorities,’ Yvonne said.
She said that Indonesian diplomatic missions in the UAE and Oman are currently in intensive coordination with local authorities, including the shipping company, regarding the search for the three missing Indonesian crew members. The matter has been reported regularly to the families of the three Indonesian nationals in Indonesia.
‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urges a thorough investigation into the incident. The Indonesian missions are coordinating with UAE and Oman authorities and the ship operator,’ Yvonne said.
Yvonne revealed that up to now UAE and Oman authorities are still investigating the explosion experienced by Musaffah 2. ‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs again urges all Indonesians in the Middle East, including Indonesian crew aboard ships, to remain vigilant, monitor developments through official information sources, and maintain contact with the nearest Indonesian representation,’ she said.