The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has released footage documenting an April 22 attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval forces on the Panama-flagged container ship Euphoria as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.
The vessel had 22 crew members on board, including 21 Indian nationals, all of whom survived unharmed after taking shelter in the ship’s interior corridors.
Key Details of the Attack
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Incident Sequence: Small armed speedboats belonging to the IRGC surrounded the vessel, firing automatic weapons and a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) at the superstructure before crew members managed to retreat to safety.
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Geopolitical Context: The confrontation occurred as regional hostilities intensified following the US-Israel military campaign against Iran initiated on February 28, 2026, which severely disrupted commercial shipping through the Persian Gulf.
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Union Demands: Releasing the footage publicly, the FSUI emphasized that advisory notices alone are insufficient to protect commercial mariners. The union urged the Indian government to deploy direct naval escorts and physical protection for vessels manned by Indian personnel operating in high-risk waters.
Government & Regulatory Response
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Safety Status: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Shipping officials confirmed that all 21 Indian seafarers on the Euphoria were unharmed and that the vessel successfully continued its voyage toward its destination.
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Deployment Advisory: The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued a strict directive instructing recruitment agencies and ship managers to halt deploying Indian seafarers on vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz until security conditions stabilize.
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Repatriation Efforts: According to government figures, over 3,900 Indian seafarers have been safely repatriated from the Persian Gulf and surrounding conflict zones to date.
