Nicaragua denies registering tanker attacked by drone near Oman

Nicaragua’s General Directorate of Aquatic Transport issued a formal statement clarifying that the tanker B/T Petro Dolphin (IMO 1072294) is not registered under the country’s maritime authority. This denial follows reports of a drone attack on the vessel on October 11, 2026, while it was anchored near Sohar, Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz.

The tanker, a coastal vessel of approximately 4,000 deadweight tons, was reportedly carrying eleven Indian crew members. Nine were rescued, but two—identified as Bir Bahadur Yadav and Amit Singh—remain missing. While the Indian Embassy in Muscat and other sources initially identified the ship as flying a Nicaraguan flag, maritime records suggest the flag may have been used without authorization. The vessel's owners and operators are based in the United Arab Emirates.