Indian Sailor Recalls Seeing Missiles and Drones During Gulf Conflict Near Strait of Hormuz

A young Indian Merchant Navy officer who recently returned home from the Gulf region has described the fear and uncertainty of sailing through a conflict zone as tensions escalated in West Asia. Rudransh Chaubey, a trainee navigation officer from Chhattisgarh, said he and his fellow crew members witnessed missiles and drones flying overhead and even saw an attack on a ship while navigating through the Strait of Hormuz.

Missiles, drones and uncertainty at sea

Amid the West Asia crisis and rising tensions in the Gulf region, Indian sailors stranded at sea found themselves caught in what Rudransh Chaubey described as a "war-like situation."

Chaubey told ANI, "I first joined my ship in Egypt in December 2025. We entered the Strait of Hormuz in the first week of February to deliver cargo to Saudi Arabia; from there, we loaded another consignment for delivery to Egypt, but that was when we learned that Iran was closing the Strait of Hormuz. We were left confused and without clear instructions on what to do next."

"Eventually, the company decided that we should deliver the cargo we had on board to Bahrain. While passing through the Strait of Hormuz, we witnessed a war-like situation unfolding. We saw several missiles and drones flying past us and observed Arab nations intercepting and destroying them. During this time, I also witnessed an attack on a ship," he said.

Life aboard a ship caught in a conflict zone

The crew's challenges continued after they delivered cargo and awaited further instructions.

"After delivering the cargo at the next destination and while awaiting further orders, we received instructions to load urea in Qatar. We then proceeded to Dubai, where we remained for about a month and a half. It was a first-time experience for everyone, finding ourselves on a ship caught in the middle of a war," he stated.

"Initially, there were no clear guidelines, leading to a panic-like situation on board; however, we later received clear instructions from the DG Shipping and the company regarding how to handle such a scenario. We also conducted several drills to ensure we could navigate our way out of any situation that might arise," Rudransh said.

Reflecting on the most difficult phase of the crisis, he said, "When the war broke out, we didn't know how long it would last. Since this was my very first experience in the shipping industry, encountering such a situation was entirely new to me. The initial days were quite challenging, but I also learned a great deal from the experience."

Adding to this, he said, "A drone attack occurred near our ship while there were 22 of us on board. We were quite rattled at the time and unsure of the best course of action, but we followed the guidelines provided by the company and the government. We gradually overcame the situation and prepared ourselves for what lay ahead."

Family concerns and government's support

Despite communication challenges, Chaubey said he regularly reassured his family back home.

"My family would watch the situation in the region on TV and ask me about the conditions; I would reassure them that everything was fine and there was no cause for alarm. Sometimes, satellite disruptions prevented communication, but I always tried to send at least a message so they would be informed and reassured," Rudransh shared.

He also credited India's Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) for helping seafarers navigate the crisis.

"DG Shipping is an agency of the Government of India that oversees ships and the people travelling on them. From the very beginning, DG Shipping provided us with guidelines and procedures to follow; we were also given a helpline number so we could call immediately if any problem arose," Rudransh said.

Having completed his contract and returned home safely, Chaubey expressed relief while urging others in the region to remain vigilant.

"My contract ended, which is why I have returned home...It is a relief that we managed to get out of that situation. My only message is that everyone currently there should stay safe and follow the guidelines being issued," he said.

(With inputs from ANI)