Tanker Attacked Near Iraq was Hit by Unmanned Boats, According to Early Findings

Reuters-Media Office of Iraqi Ports

A ship burns, after Iranian explosive-laden boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters setting them ablaze.

Two explosive-laden unmanned boats struck the tanker Safesea Vishnu at an Iraqi seaport on Wednesday, triggering a powerful explosion that engulfed the vessel’s port side in flames and left the crew with only seconds to react, according to an initial assessment by the ship’s U.S. owner and operator, according to Reuters report.

"After speaking to the surviving crew members, the attack appears to have been deliberate and calculated," Reuters quoted New Jersey-based Safesea Group which said in a statement.

At least ⁠16 tankers and other vessels have come under attack in the Gulf during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Hundreds more have dropped anchor due to Tehran's threat to attack vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport roughly one-fifth of the world's oil.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu was anchored at the Iraqi port of Khor Al Zubair and engaged in ship-to-ship loading of 53,000 metric tons of naphtha at the time of the attack.

The vessel’s 28 crew members were forced to jump into the water to escape the burning ship, as there was no time to deploy lifeboats. One crew member died, while the remaining 27 are safe and receiving assistance from the Embassy of India in Iraq, Safesea said. The tanker is reported to be listing, and a salvage team has been dispatched to stabilise the vessel and ensure the surrounding marine environment remains safe.

The attack must serve as a wake-up call for governments, maritime authorities, and the international community, Safesea said.

"Commercial shipping lanes cannot become battle zones," ⁠it said.

The Malta-flagged Zefyros was the other ship involved in the transfer. A projectile struck that vessel during the Wednesday night assault, its Greece-based manager said on Thursday. All 23 crew on the Zefyros were safely evacuated.

Some 20,000 seafarers aboard ⁠vessels operating in the region face "a dangerous and highly uncertain security situation," according to the World Shipping Council.

Source: Reuters



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