Tanker hit off Saudi’s Gulf coast, crew evacuated
The UKMTO said the vessel was hit on Friday, 68 nautical miles off the coast of Jubail, adding that 'all crew are reported safe'.
A tanker off Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast was hit by an unknown projectile on Friday, prompting the evacuation of its crew, according to maritime monitoring agency UKMTO. All crew members are reported to be safe. The vessel, identified as the Marshall Islands-flagged Safeen Principal crude oil tanker, lost power and experienced an engine-room fire.
Another maritime security agency, Vanguard, also reported a separate attack on a ship in the same area with a rocket-propelled grenade, but the crew was unharmed. This incident occurred as part of the ongoing Middle East war, during which Iran has regularly targeted ships in the region, particularly blocking the Strait of Hormuz—the sole exit route for oil and gas exports via the Gulf sea.
This strategic chokepoint saw about one-fifth of global oil exports passing through before the conflict began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Consequently, oil prices have surged amid the ongoing turmoil.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Tanker hit off Saudi’s Gulf coast, crew evacuated freemalaysiatoday.com
- Tanker hit off Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast, crew evacuated nst.com.my
