Working Conditions Aboard the Fair-Winds

In a devastating incident on March 11, 2026, an Indian crew member lost his life when the oil tanker 'Safesea Vishnu' was targeted alongside 'Zefyros' (IMO: 9515917) in a drone boat attack attributed to Iran. The assault occurred at 11:52 p.m. near the Khor Al Zubair port, close to Basra, while both tankers were engaged in cargo transfer operations believed to involve around 400,000 barrels of Iraqi crude oil. Deonandan Prasad Singh, a 55-year-old seafarer originally from Mumbai, tragically succumbed to injuries sustained when his vessel was struck by an explosive-laden speedboat. At the time of the attack, Singh was operating aboard the 'Safesea Vishnu', which had a crew of 28, among whom he was the sole fatality. Despite having transitioned to a shore-based position, Singh was summoned back to join the crew shortly before departure. The ship was carrying approximately 48,000 metric tonnes of naphtha. A rescue operation was initiated by the Iraqi Ports Company, which deployed a boat to assist the 38 crew members from both tankers. Five tugs also participated in the search and rescue efforts, as some crew members sustained injuries. As of the morning of March 12, assessments regarding the condition of survivors were ongoing. The 'Zefyros', manned by a crew of 22 Georgian nationals and engaged in ship-to-ship cargo operations with the 'Safesea Vishnu', successfully evacuated all crew members unharmed to an Iraqi vessel. This tanker was transporting energy products for the Basra Gas Company, slated to load an additional 30,000 tonnes of naphtha as confirmed by the State Oil Marketing Organization of Iraq (SOMO). Iraqi firefighting units alongside local port authorities effectively controlled and extinguished the flames, but both vessels were left as charred remnants listing to port. Following the attack, the Iraqi General Ports Company suspended operations across its oil terminals. Iran has taken responsibility for this offensive, intensifying regional tensions as both the 'Safesea Vishnu' and 'Zefyros' were crucial to global oil shipping activities. The 'Safesea Vishnu' is operated by Safesea Transport Group and Safesea Group, with extensive maritime experience in the Persian Gulf, while the 'Zefyros' is owned by Zefyros Trading SA and operated commercially by Cygnus Tankers Ltd. This tragic incident underscores the increasing risks faced by maritime crews in volatile geopolitics impacting vital oil logistics in the region.