Liberia-Flagged Tanker MT Fujairah Energy Hit by Projectile in Persian Gulf, Four Crew Injured

A projectile struck the Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier MT Fujairah Energy in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, injuring four crew members, India's government confirmed on Wednesday. It is the first confirmed injury case in the current wave of attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf, and it comes as the toll of struck vessels keeps climbing in the war between the United States and Iran.

The Short Answer

The Liberia-flagged oil tanker MT Fujairah Energy was hit by a projectile while sailing from Al Ruwais to Dubai on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, injuring four of its 22 crew members, including one Indian national. India's shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the attack on Wednesday, saying the injured Indian seafarer suffered minor injuries and was taken ashore for medical examination. The other 18 crew members, including five other Indian nationals, are safe. No group has claimed responsibility, and the type of projectile has not been identified.

What Happened to the MT Fujairah Energy

The MT Fujairah Energy, a Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC), was transiting the Persian Gulf from Al Ruwais in the United Arab Emirates toward Dubai when it was struck by a projectile on Tuesday. Six Indian nationals were among the 22 crew members aboard. Four sailors were injured in the strike, including one Indian national, who suffered minor injuries and was safely taken ashore for further medical examination.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the incident in a post on X on Wednesday, writing: "On Nov 10, Liberia-flagged VLCC MT FUJAIRAH ENERGY, carrying 6 Indian seafarers, was hit by a projectile while transiting the Persian Gulf from Al Ruwais to Dubai. Four crew members sustained injuries in the attack, including one Indian national, who suffered minor injuries and has been safely taken ashore for further medical examination. The remaining 18 crew members, including the other five Indian seafarers, are safe and accounted for."

Sonowal said the government was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the vessel's management company to ensure medical assistance and the safety of the affected crew. The minister did not provide further details about the nature of the projectile or who fired it.

A Shipping War With a Rising Toll

The attack on the Fujairah Energy is the latest in a sharp escalation of strikes on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the war between the United States and Iran began on February 28, 2026. Data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, cited by Reuters, showed that 37 ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waterways in October — the highest monthly total since the war began — and 10 attacks had already been recorded in November before this week.

Just this week, a Barbados-flagged tanker was struck by a drone off Oman, an ADNOC vessel was damaged in UAE waters, and a Saudi-flagged tanker was reported hit by a mine in the eastern Strait of Hormuz. Until now, those incidents had been reported without injuries. The Fujairah Energy strike is the first in the current wave to leave crew members hurt — a threshold that raises the stakes for shipping companies, insurers and the governments whose nationals crew these vessels. For the full picture of this week's attacks, see our report on more tankers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz as shipping strikes continue.

What Is Still Unclear

Several key facts remain unconfirmed. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike on the Fujairah Energy, and neither the Indian government nor maritime security firms have said what kind of projectile hit the vessel — whether a drone, a missile or another weapon. It is also not clear whether the tanker was deliberately targeted or struck as part of a wider pattern of attacks on vessels using the Gulf route. You can follow the latest developments in the Strait of Hormuz shipping crisis as more details are confirmed.

The broader context is a US naval blockade of Iran, known as Operation Iron Gate, and a campaign of strikes on shipping that both sides blame on each other. President Trump said this week that the Iran war is "effectively over" after talks with Qatar's prime minister, but the blockade continues and attacks on tankers have not stopped. Oil markets have reacted: Brent crude rose 1.1 percent to $92.53 a barrel on Wednesday. For more on the diplomatic picture, see our coverage of Trump saying the Iran war is "effectively over" after the Qatar talks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MT Fujairah Energy?

The MT Fujairah Energy is a Liberia-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC), a large oil tanker. It was sailing from Al Ruwais in the United Arab Emirates to Dubai when it was struck by a projectile on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

How many crew members were injured?

Four crew members were injured, including one Indian national who suffered minor injuries and was taken ashore for medical examination. The vessel carried 22 crew members, including six Indian nationals; the other 18 crew are safe and accounted for.

Who confirmed the attack?

India's Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the attack in a post on X on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, saying the government was coordinating with the ship's management company to ensure medical care for the injured.

Who attacked the tanker?

No group has claimed responsibility, and the type of projectile has not been identified. The attack comes amid a wave of strikes on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf during the war between the United States and Iran.

How many ships have been attacked in the region?

According to Washington Institute data cited by Reuters, 37 ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waterways in October 2026 — the highest monthly total since the war began on February 28, 2026 — and 10 attacks had already been recorded in November before this week.

Is the Strait of Hormuz still open to shipping?

Commercial shipping continues to use the strait, but attacks have made the route far more dangerous and expensive, with higher insurance costs and war-risk premiums. Iran has warned the waterway stays closed to "violating" vessels, while the US naval blockade of Iran continues.

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