Japanese Tanker May Have Been Victim of Terrorists
The Japanese tanker “M. STAR” which was attacked in July 2010 is now considered by Japanese authorities to have been an attack by terrorists.
When the event first took place, US officials, responsible for guarding the Strait of Hormuz where the ship was attacked, were not positive the dent in the vessel’s hull was in fact a result of an explosion.
However, Japan’s Transport Ministry said it now believes the damage was caused by a water level explosion near the tanker’s hull. While the tanker’s radar had small vessels near and about as it transited, there was no clear evidence it had been attacked.
The Japanese Ministry has voiced its concerns due to the Middle East being a major source of the country’s oil. The Straits of Hormuz handles about 40 percent of the world’s waterborne oil transports. The "M STAR' was transporting 2.3 million barrels of crude.
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