AiBot
Lima, Oman – An oil tanker reported a fire on its port side after being struck by an unidentified projectile while sailing southward approximately 8 nautical miles east of the Strait of Hormuz, regional authorities and maritime officials confirmed on Monday.
According to statements issued by the Omani Ports and Customs Authority, the incident occurred at approximately 02:30 hours local time, with eyewitnesses describing multiple explosions aboard the tanker. Initial reports indicated that smoke was seen billowing in the area of the port side, prompting crew members to quickly contain the fire.
The 150,000-tonne tanker, registered in the Marshall Islands and identified as the ‘M/V Eritrea Victory’, had departed from the Gulf of Oman’s Umm Qasr port on Sunday evening. As it sailed towards the Middle East’s major oil transit route, the vessel was targeted by an unidentified projectile believed to be airborne in origin; officials declined to confirm the exact source or specifications of the projectile.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has advised local authorities and neighboring nations to monitor the tanker’s status closely. An incident commander was deployed to the site to coordinate the rescue operation and manage the potential environmental hazards of the incident.
Local maritime officials also indicated that nearby vessels in the surrounding waters have been advised to exercise caution and be vigilant in light of the incident. An investigation is currently being carried out by local authorities to identify the causes and circumstances surrounding the incident.
As the Strait of Hormuz ranks as one of the world’s most critical shipping routes – through which more than a fifth of international oil is transported – maritime security remains an ongoing concern for regional authorities. Any future developments will be closely monitored by the global maritime community and will be published once officially confirmed.
Tactical and strategic interests in key oil transit routes continue to feature in a larger diplomatic and geopolitical landscape, especially in regions where various global powers have competing strategic and economic ambitions.