Three Tankers Attacked in Two Days in Strait of Hormuz Crisis
At least three VLCCs were hit by suspected Iranian attacks over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, according to reporting from UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Indian government and private security consultancies.
According to India's shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, the oil tanker Dominica Prosperity was hit by an unspecified projectile while adrift and waiting off the coast of Ras al Khaimah, UAE - within the Arabian Gulf and near to the approaches to Hormuz. The Prosperity is part of the Sinokor fleet, the largest player in the trans-Hormuz "shuttle" trade - a high-risk, high-reward service connecting energy producers in the Arabian Gulf to global markets.
The 22 members of the crew - including 19 Indian nationals - were evacuated by the UAE's coast guard, with no injuries reported.
"We remain in continuous contact with the ship management company to ensure their ongoing safety, welfare and logistical support," Sonowal said.
According to consultancy Vanguard Tech, the attack caused a fire, and firefighting operations continued after the evacuation. The full extent of the damage to the vessel has not yet been assessed.
The Aframax tanker NCC Fajr was also attacked on Wednesday, Sonowal added. The entire crew was safe and unharmed.
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The VLCC Fujairah Energy - associated with UAE state oil company Adnoc, another leader in the "Hormuz shuttle" crude transfer route through Omani waters - was also hit on Tuesday, Minister Sonowal said. Four crewmembers were injured in the attack; the remaining 18 survivors were unharmed.
India has been particularly active in identifying and disclosing casualties in the Strait of Hormuz; the frequency and the specifics of Iran's attacks are not always publicly reported by owners and other parties, in part for operational security reasons, but India has an interest in representing its seafarers and maximizing their safety. Indian mariners have a strong presence in the tanker fleet and have been disproportionately affected by the strikes.
