A tanker travelling out through the Strait of Hormuz was attacked on Thursday after a small boat attached two explosive devices to its hull, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Friday.
The blasts set fire to the tanker’s engine room and left the vessel temporarily disabled, UKMTO said. The crew put out the fire, and the ship has resumed its journey to its next port. UKMTO said all crew members were safe and there was no environmental damage.
The incident happened on Thursday about 25 nautical miles north-east of Khasab, Oman, while the tanker was travelling outbound through the strait, according to UKMTO. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.
The attack comes amid repeated attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict between the United States and Iran began in February. The strait is one of the world’s most important oil export routes, and maritime security risks there have risen during the conflict.
Source: UKMTO, as reported by Arab News: https://www.arabnews.pk/middle-east/fire-hit-tanker-continues-journey-after-being-attacked-in-strait-of-hormuz-ukmto-says-3005617
