Two supertankers carrying Saudi crude oil were struck by unidentified projectiles within minutes of each other while transiting the Strait of Hormuz late on Monday, according to maritime intelligence and vessel-tracking firms Marisks and Kpler.
The near-simultaneous incidents demonstrate the further escalation of the threatening environment in the Oman corridor, Marisks said.
According to Kpler data, both tankers had loaded two million barrels of Saudi crude each from the Juaymah terminal last week.
The Saudi-flagged supertanker Sidr was struck by projectiles while sailing 16.6 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, at 1952 GMT, Marisks said.
A few minutes later, the Liberia-flagged VLCC Senegal Prosperity was targeted by three unidentified projectiles about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab, the company added.
The crew of the Senegal Prosperity was reported safe.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that an oil tanker had been targeted by three projectiles in the same area of the Strait of Hormuz. The incident appears to refer to the same attack.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian media reported that a Saudi oil tanker had been forced to halt its voyage while transiting the southern shipping lane of the strait.
Source: CNA
