Newsletters
A tanker suffered damage after an explosion close to its waterline off the coast of Oman on Tuesday, according to a British maritime monitoring agency, as security concerns continue to hang over the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident triggered a discharge of bunker fuel into the sea, although all crew members remained safe, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The blast took place in the Gulf of Oman, about 60 nautical miles east of Muscat. UKMTO described the incident as an "external explosion" but provided no further details on the source of the blast.
The latest incident comes amid months of heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of fighting in late February. Multiple tankers, cargo ships and bulk carriers have since come under attack from drones, projectiles and explosive boats in Gulf waters, with several vessels catching fire and crews forced to evacuate.
In one of the earliest reported incidents during the conflict, a Palau-flagged oil tanker was attacked off Oman on March 1, injuring crew members. Other attacks in recent weeks included drone strikes targeting tankers near Iraq’s Basra port, fires aboard commercial vessels off Oman and ship seizures in the Gulf of Oman.
U.S. forces launched overnight strikes on missile sites in southern Iran and targeted boats that Washington said were attempting to lay mines in the Gulf waters on Monday. U.S. Central Command described the operation as a “self-defense” action aimed at protecting American forces and commercial shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has been laying mines in nearby waters as part of its campaign to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway normally carries around one-fifth of global oil production and remains one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.
Since the conflict escalated in late February, tanker traffic through the strait has sharply declined as shipping companies and insurers pulled back because of mounting security risks.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
