Attack on Oil Tanker in Arabian Gulf Leaves Crew Safe, UKMTO Reports
An oil tanker was attacked in the Arabian Gulf, but all crew members are safe, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.
London, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : An oil tanker traveling eastward in the Arabian Gulf was attacked before entering the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Sunday. Fortunately, all crew members aboard the vessel are reported safe. The extent of the damage to the ship remains unclear.
In an alert posted on its website, UKMTO acknowledged a report from Indian shipping authorities regarding the attack. They emphasized that the crew members are unharmed. However, information regarding the damage and its environmental impact is currently unavailable.
UKMTO advised vessels passing through the region to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. This incident comes amid a series of attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf area.
On November 3, India condemned an attack on the commercial vessel “MSV Al Jusufi” near the coast of Limah, Oman, which resulted in the death of an Indian citizen. The Indian government reiterated its call for de-escalating tensions in the region.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern over the ongoing attacks on commercial vessels, describing them as alarming. They urged immediate measures to reduce tensions and emphasized the need for successful diplomatic talks to restore peace and stability in the area. The MEA also called for an end to targeting commercial ships and civilian infrastructure, insisting on the need for safe and uninterrupted navigation and trade in accordance with international law.
According to the MEA, there were 14 Indian nationals on the attacked vessel, with 13 rescued and one confirmed dead. Earlier, on October 30, a fire broke out on a ship leaving the Strait of Hormuz, with UKMTO reporting the incident occurred approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. At that time, UKMTO stated that the cause of the fire was unknown, and details about the crew’s status and the extent of damage were still being assessed.
