Tanker struck off Saudi coast as attacks on Gulf shipping intensify
Crew evacuated after unidentified projectile hits vessel near Al Jubayl; a separate tanker attack was also reported in the area
A tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile off Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast, prompting the evacuation of its crew, as attacks on commercial shipping continue to threaten a key route for global energy supplies.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a delayed report of the incident, which occurred about 68 nautical miles north-east of Al Jubayl on Friday. All crew members were reported safe and evacuated. No environmental impact had been reported at the time of the advisory.
Maritime security firm Vanguard identified the vessel as the Safeen Principal, a crude oil tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It reportedly lost power and suffered a fire in its engine room. The projectile’s origin has not been publicly established.
The incident came amid a wider escalation in threats to commercial vessels across the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO separately reported another tanker attack in the same area on Friday, about 78 nautical miles north-east of Al Jubayl. In that incident, the vessel’s master reported an attack involving a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a small boat, damaging the ship’s aft port quarter. Its crew were safe, although the full extent of the damage and any environmental consequences remained unclear.
The incidents add to mounting concerns over maritime security during the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Reuters reported on 14 October that two commercial vessels had sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by projectiles in separate incidents, underlining the risks facing shipping operators in and around the waterway.
Before the war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Disruption to the route can affect crude supplies, shipping costs and energy prices well beyond the Middle East.
The latest tanker strike does not, by itself, establish who was responsible. With investigations ongoing and further attacks reported nearby, the security of Gulf shipping remains a significant concern for energy markets and international trade.
Sources: United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO); Vanguard, as cited by AFP/BSS; Reuters.
