Maritime transport is an increasingly dangerous activity. While trade in the Red Sea is endangered by attacks by Yemeni rebels, a new incident occurred this Thursday. Armed men “in military fatigues” boarded an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, the British Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO) and the private company Ambrey reported.
“Four to five unauthorized people” boarded the boat sailing off the city of Sohar, in the north of the sultanate, UKMTO said. The individuals wore “black military uniform” and masks of the same color, she said. According to the private maritime security firm Ambrey, the incident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. French time) aboard the St Nikolas, an oil tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, which then headed towards Bandar-e Jask , on the southern coast of Iran.
A cargo confiscated by the United States
Empire Navigation, the Greek group that runs the St Nikolas, said in a statement that it had “lost contact” with the ship and the 19 crew members – 18 Filipinos and one Greek. The ship had loaded in Basra, Iraq, “a cargo of approximately 145,000 tonnes of crude oil intended for Aliaga (Turkey), via the Suez Canal,” he said.
“The individuals covered the ship’s cameras,” Ambrey said, citing a security agent who heard “unknown voices” on the phone as well as that of the captain. The recently renamed tanker had been prosecuted and fined in the past for transporting Iranian oil under sanctions. The cargo was then confiscated by the American authorities, according to the British firm.
Dangerous transport
“Iran has previously acted against those it accuses of cooperating with the United States,” she added. The Gulf of Oman, an important shipping route for the oil industry, has been the scene of a series of incidents and attacks in recent years, often involving Iran.
Maritime transport in this oil-rich region is also under pressure due to drone and missile attacks carried out by Yemen’s rebels in the Red Sea.