Safesea Calls For International Probe After Deadly Tanker Attack Near Iraq Kills Indian Seafarer

A global maritime company has called for an independent international investigation into an attack on one of its crude oil tankers last month that killed an Indian crew member.

The company said the incident is a serious threat to global shipping and trade stability.

Safesea Group Chairman Dr S V Anchan has sought a probe into the March 11 attack on MT Safesea Vishnu. He said the sequence of events suggests a highly coordinated and pre-planned operation involving surveillance, precise execution and possible real-time monitoring.

The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was operating in Iraqi territorial waters when it was attacked off Khor Al Zubair port near Basra.

The attack was allegedly carried out by an Iranian “suicide” boat. Deonandan Singh, a 55-year-old senior crew member from Mumbai, was killed in the incident.

At the time of the attack, the tanker was anchored at Khor Al Zubair and was involved in routine ship-to-ship loading operations. It had already completed part of its cargo work at the berth and had shifted to anchorage to finish loading around 53,000 metric tonnes of naphtha.

The company said that unidentified high-speed boats were seen moving repeatedly around anchored vessels a day before the incident.

It believes this could have been for reconnaissance and target mapping. It added that the use of an unmanned explosive-laden boat shows a high level of planning and operational capability.

Safesea said the matter should be investigated through a transparent international probe, possibly under the oversight of the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations.

The company also acknowledged the quick response of Iraqi authorities during rescue and emergency operations.

However, it raised concerns about surveillance and response systems in Iraqi waters, especially the lack of preventive action despite unusual vessel movements.

The company said the absence of pre-incident vigilance needs careful and transparent examination. It has asked for full disclosure of radar data, Automatic Identification System (AIS) records and coastal surveillance inputs.

It also called for a detailed review of coastal security and vessel monitoring systems, along with sharing the findings with the global maritime community.

In a gesture of respect, Anchan travelled on Tuesday on the same flight carrying Singh’s mortal remains to India. The company said this was to ensure his final journey home was carried out with dignity.

He will be joined by the vessel’s captain and other senior officials to attend Singh’s last rites in his hometown, as per the family’s wishes.

Anchan said that in shipping, the most important thing is not cargo or cost, but human life.

References: PTI, Telegraph India