Seafarer Killed in Attack on Tanker Velos Sapphire in the Gulf

The update

A seafarer was killed in an explosion aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Velos Sapphire in the Gulf, its Greek manager Velos Tankers said on Friday. The unladen ship was sailing towards Bahrain when it was attacked on Thursday. The seafarer was first reported missing and was then found fatally injured on board. No other crew members were injured, the crew put out the fire, and the ship was taken into Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port for an investigation and hull assessment.

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption. Britain’s maritime agency UKMTO said October saw more than 35 attacks in the strait, the highest monthly total since the war began, with at least five vessels attacked so far in November. Attacks on commercial shipping therefore threaten crews, energy flows and wider trade through the gateway.

What to watch

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Friday that two more oil tankers were on fire in the strait after hitting mines, a claim reported by both sources. Watch for the investigation’s findings on what hit the Velos Sapphire — reports describe a believed missile or unidentified projectile, not a confirmed cause — and for any further attacks on shipping.

Sources

• dw.com — confirms the Velos Tankers statement, the death, the fire, the Bahrain port and UKMTO attack counts.
• thehindu.com — confirms the vessel, its route and cargo state, the projectile report, the Guards’ two-tanker claim and Hormuz’s share of global oil.

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