Masked gunmen storm oil tanker in one of world’s busiest shipping channels
Masked gunmen in military uniforms have stormed an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman near Iran in an apparent seizure.
A vessel located around 50 nautical miles east of Oman’s port city of Sohar was boarded by ‘unauthorized persons’, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which sends warnings to sailors in the Middle East, said.
UKTMO described a report from the ship’s security manager who heard ‘unknown voices over the phone’ alongside the ship’s captain.
‘Unauthorised boarders are reported to be wearing military style black uniforms with black masks,’ the warning read.
An investigation is currently ongoing, but UKMTO has lost contact with the tanker.
Details remain unclear in what was apparently the latest seizure of a vessel in the tense Middle East waterways.
The incident began in the early hours of this morning, but suspicion immediately fell on Iran.
British maritime security firm Ambrey said the tanker had been prosecuted in the past after the group United Against Nuclear Iran said it suspected it carried oil from Iran’s Khargh Island.
It added that the Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker was headed in the direction of Bandar-e-Jask in Iran.
Where is Oman?
Meanwhile, a tanker tracking company put the blame on Iran, adding that the vessel was carrying Iraqi oil.
In an update on X, it said: ‘The tanker which the Iranians have boarded today in the Gulf of Oman is the ST NIKOLAS (9524475); carrying Iraqi oil.
‘Formerly known as the SUEZ RAJAN; she was seized by the US government for having transported a million barrels of Iranian oil in connection to a US company.’
The area is transited by vessels coming in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes.
It comes a little more than 24 hours after UK and US forces repelled the largest attack’ by Yemen-based Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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