Indonesia Seeks Three Missing Crew After Hormuz Tugboat Fire

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A fire broke out on the tugboat Musaffah 2, which flies the flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in the Strait of Hormuz between UAE and Omani waters. The incident occurred early Friday, March 6, 2026, and was reported to the Indonesian embassies in Abu Dhabi and Muscat on the same day.

Indonesian representatives immediately coordinated with authorities in the UAE and Oman, as well as with the company Safeen Prestige. According to information received, Musaffah 2 had seven crew members of Indonesian, Indian, and Philippine nationality.

Four crew members survived, while three remain missing. Of the four Indonesian crew members, one survivor is being treated for burn injuries at a hospital in Khasab, Oman.

“Meanwhile, the other three Indonesian crew members are still being searched for by local authorities. In addition to the four Indonesian crew members, there was another Indonesian at the location of the incident but on a different vessel, and he is safe,” said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang in a written statement on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Yvonne added that Indonesian representatives in the UAE and Oman are coordinating intensively with local authorities and the company regarding the search for the three missing crew members. They are also ensuring medical treatment for the injured survivor and providing updates to families in Indonesia.

“The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry is also encouraging a thorough investigation into this incident and is paying attention to the security situation in the Middle East region. The ministry again urges all Indonesian citizens in the Middle East, including Indonesian crew members working on ships, to remain vigilant,” she said.

Indonesian crew members are advised to monitor developments through official sources, maintain communication with the nearest Indonesian representative office, and immediately report their presence to ensure a quick and appropriate response, especially in emergencies, by contacting the relevant mission’s hotline.

Eyewitnesses reported that Musaffah 2 experienced an explosion that caused the vessel to catch fire and sink. Authorities in the UAE and Oman are continuing to investigate the cause of the incident. (Diffa Sephiawardhani/Lasti Martina)