A maritime tragedy unfolded in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the lives of five Indonesian citizens who were victims of a suspected missile attack. Their vessel, the tugboat Musaffah 2, reportedly sank in the early hours of Friday, March 6, following the devastating incident.
Circulating video footage indicated that the Musaffah 2 was struck by a missile, though the perpetrator behind the attack remains unspecified. The same reports depicted the vessel engulfed in flames after the initial impact, a scene that underscores the severity of the incident.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) confirmed that the Musaffah 2 incident occurred around 02:00 local time in the waters situated between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. The UAE-flagged vessel, prior to its tragic sinking, was reported to have experienced a significant explosion that led to an uncontrollable fire.
Heni Hamidah, the Acting Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at Kemenlu, revealed that the Indonesian government was notified of the incident on the very day it occurred. “On March 6, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Indonesian Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Muscat, received reports concerning the incident involving the UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2,” Heni informed Kumparan, highlighting the immediate diplomatic engagement.
Crewed by 7
Eyewitness accounts describe a powerful explosion that subsequently ignited a massive fire on board the tugboat, ultimately leading to its submersion. Authorities in both the UAE and Oman have since launched a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the precise cause of this maritime disaster, striving for clarity amid the chaos.
Indonesian diplomatic representatives swiftly initiated coordination with local authorities and Safeen Prestige, the operating company of the vessel. Initial information gathered indicates that the Musaffah 2 was crewed by seven individuals representing three different nationalities: Indonesia, India, and the Philippines.
4 Safe, 3 Indonesian Nationals Missing
Yvonne Mewengkang, Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided an update on the status of the Indonesian nationals involved. One Indonesian crew member from the tugboat survived the ordeal and is currently receiving medical treatment in Oman. Furthermore, an Indonesian technician, who was on the separate container ship and not aboard the tugboat, has been safely transported to the UAE.
“Regarding the status of the Indonesian citizens, one Indonesian crew member is being treated for burns at a hospital in Khasab, Oman, while one Indonesian technician who survived is now in Abu Dhabi. The search efforts for three other Indonesian crew members are actively ongoing by local authorities,” Yvonne stated in a press release on Sunday, March 8.
Yvonne clarified the crew composition at the time of the incident: “The Musaffah 2 had a total of seven crew members, including four Indonesian nationals, and was carrying six technicians, one of whom was an Indonesian national.” At the time of the incident, the Musaffah 2 was engaged in inspecting the container ship Safeen Prestige, which had sustained damage.
“Based on eyewitness testimony, the Musaffah 2 experienced an explosion which caused the vessel to catch fire,” she elaborated, corroborating earlier reports. Crucially, four Indonesian crew members were on the tugboat itself, while the sole Indonesian technician was on the container vessel being examined. Currently, the three Indonesian crew members reported missing from the tugboat remain the focus of extensive search and rescue operations by regional authorities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Indonesian representatives in the area are maintaining intensive coordination with both local authorities and the shipping company. These ongoing efforts are aimed at ensuring the most effective search process and comprehensive handling of all victims affected by this tragic event.
Captain’s Last Communication with Family
Among the victims of the fateful incident was Miswar Paturusi, a resident hailing from Pattedong Village, Ponrang Selatan District, Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi. Miswar served as the captain of the tugboat, which was operated by the Abu Dhabi Port company. His family received the distressing news of the incident from a colleague on Friday, March 6, around 10:00 WITA (Central Indonesia Time).
Sumarlin, a family representative, recalled that Miswar’s last communication with his wife occurred on Wednesday, March 4. “He conveyed that he would be traveling to his work location,” Sumarlin confirmed when contacted on Sunday, March 8.
On Thursday afternoon, March 5, at approximately 13:00 WITA, Miswar had reportedly read a message sent by his child via a messaging application. However, that message remained unanswered. “The message was read, but he didn’t have time to reply. After that, there was no further news,” Sumarlin shared, painting a poignant picture of the family’s last contact before the tragedy struck.
Summary
A UAE-flagged tugboat, Musaffah 2, reportedly sank in the Strait of Hormuz on March 6 around 02:00 local time following a suspected missile attack, explosion, and fire. The incident, which occurred in waters between the United Arab Emirates and Oman, was confirmed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu). The vessel was inspecting the damaged container ship Safeen Prestige when the tragic event unfolded.
The Musaffah 2 carried seven crew members, including four Indonesians, with an additional Indonesian technician on the container ship. One Indonesian crew member survived with burns and is currently receiving medical treatment in Oman, while the Indonesian technician is safely in Abu Dhabi. Search efforts are actively underway for three missing Indonesian crew members, with Indonesian representatives coordinating closely with local authorities and the shipping company.