The Ministry of Transportation Controls the Return of 2 Indonesian Sailors Victims of Missile Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

The Directorate General of Hubla is overseeing the repatriation process of two Indonesian crew members working on the MT Belma tanker (Kemenhub)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) through the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs has monitored the repatriation process of two Indonesian crew members working on the MT Belma tanker after being affected by a missile attack in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, Middle East.

The two crew members arrived in Indonesia through Terminal 3 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday, July 22, at 18.30 WIB.

The pick-up was carried out by representatives of the Directorate of Shipping and Maritime Affairs together with the Director of PT Utama Bahari Indonesia Nur Suwanto as the company holding the Certificate of Authority for the Agency of Ship's Crew (SIUKAK).

Director of Shipping and Maritime Samsuddin said the government was committed to providing protection to Indonesian sailors who faced emergency situations while working abroad.

"The government continues to be committed to providing protection to Indonesian sailors, including in emergency conditions due to conflicts or security disruptions in international shipping areas," he said in a statement, Tuesday, July 28.

Samsuddin said the repatriation process involved coordination of various parties, ranging from the ship's crew agency company, ship owner, local authorities, the Directorate of Protection of Indonesian Citizens (PWNI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to related government representatives.

"We ensure that the handling, coordination, and repatriation of the crew can run well with the Directorate of PWNI of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that the crew can return home safely. For this reason, we express our appreciation to all parties who have contributed to this repatriation process," he said.

Based on the chronology conveyed by the Ministry of Transportation, MT Belma crossed the Strait of Hormuz to Kharg Island Anchorage on July 15, 2026. During the voyage, the ship suffered two missile attacks that hit the funnel and caused a number of damages.

The damage made the ship's engine unable to operate so that the ship was tossed around and almost approached the land. The captain then decided to moor on July 16.

However, a day later or on July 17, while the ship was berthed, MT Belma was again the target of a missile attack that hit the funnel again. In response to this condition, the captain ordered all the crew to gather in the bow while waiting for the evacuation process.

At around 6 p.m. local time, all the crew members were evacuated using a relief ship to Kharg Island, Iran, to get further treatment before the two Indonesian crew members were finally repatriated to their homeland.