UAE Tug Sinks in the Strait of Hormuz, Three Indonesian Crew Members Missing

Sun, 08 Mar 2026, 16:20 WIB | By Haufan Salengke | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Politics

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu RI) reported that three Indonesian nationals are missing after the UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, March 6. The incident adds to a long list of shipping security disruptions on this vital route since the outbreak of the US-Israel conflict with Iran in late February.

According to an official statement from the Indonesian MFA, Musaffah 2 carried seven crew members from Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. Of the total crew, four were declared safe, while the remaining three, all Indonesian, are still being searched for.

Explosion chronology:

Maritime security firm Vanguard reported that Musaffah 2 was struck by two missiles while attempting to assist the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige, which had been attacked on Wednesday (4 March). The explosion triggered a severe fire before the vessel sank.

“One Indonesian survivor is currently receiving intensive care for burn injuries at a hospital in Khasab, Oman. Meanwhile, local authorities continue to search for the other three Indonesian nationals,” the MFA statement said.

In addition to the casualties on that vessel, the MFA also confirmed the existence of another Indonesian national at the scene but safe aboard a different vessel. Investigations by local authorities are ongoing to determine details of the attack amid military escalations in the region. (CNA/B-3)

View JSON | Print