Three Indonesian Seafarers Among Crew Missing in the Strait of Hormuz After Vessel Sinks, Foreign Ministry Says

Three of the four Indonesian crew members are reported missing after the tug Musaffah 2 exploded and sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, 6 March 2026. The incident occurred as the Strait remains a highly tense area due to the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel coalition that has persisted since 28 February. Acting Director for Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Heni Hamidah said the four Indonesians were crew on Musaffah 2, which is UAE-flagged. ‘The incident occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, between the waters of the United Arab Emirates and Oman, on 6 March 2026 at 02:00 local time,’ Heni said, as quoted by CNN Indonesia, on Sunday 8 March 2026. According to Heni, eyewitnesses reported that Musaffah 2 exploded first, triggering a fire before sinking in the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities in the UAE and Oman are currently conducting investigations to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Separately, the Indonesian government continues to coordinate with authorities in both countries as well as with the ship owner, Safeen Prestige. ‘Based on information received, Musaffah 2 had a total of seven crew members on board of Indonesian, Indian, and Filipino nationalities. Four crew survived, while the other three are still being searched,’ she said. ‘Regarding the four Indonesian crew members, one Indonesian survivor is receiving burn treatment at a hospital in the city of Khasab, Oman. The other three Indonesians are being actively searched by local authorities,’ she added. In addition to the four Indonesians aboard the vessel, Heni noted there is one other Indonesian at the scene, but on a different vessel and currently safe. The Foreign Ministry is also requesting that investigations into the explosion in the Strait of Hormuz be conducted comprehensively. ‘Considering the security situation in the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry reiterates that all Indonesians in the Middle East, including Indonesian seafarers, should remain vigilant, monitor developments through official information sources, and maintain communication with the nearest Indonesian mission,’ she concluded. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the locations affected by the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran. So far, Iran has publicly barred ships belonging to the United States, Israel, European countries and their allies from transiting, but in its official statement Tehran notably did not mention a ban on China.