Oil Tanker Hit by Limpet Mines in Hormuz, 27 Indian Sailors Safe
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack
A Panama-flagged oil tanker carrying 27 Indian seafarers was attacked with limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz on October 30, triggering a fire in its engine room and temporarily disabling the vessel. All crew members escaped unharmed, and the tanker has since resumed its voyage. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all 27 Indians aboard MT LOUISE 1 were safe.
The crew was safe, there was no environmental impact and the fire had been extinguished, British navy agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said in an advisory note, adding that the vessel, which it did not name, was continuing to its next port of call.
The incident occurred on Thursday, 25 nautical miles (46 km) northeast of Oman's Khasab, UKMTO said.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.
The incident comes amid repeated attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil export routes, since the outbreak of the conflict between theUS and Iran in February.
Iran has hit vessels it says have violated its restrictions on passage through the strategic waterway, as it seeks to assert control over the strait and exert pressure on Washington.
This is the first known successful strike using limpet mines in the area since the beginning of the US war with Iran and followed a separate attempt in September using such devices which did not detonate, two of the sources said.
"The apparent ability of a small craft to approach a transiting tanker, deploy explosive devices and withdraw presents a significant security concern, particularly in the Strait's congested shipping lanes," Greece-based maritime risk management group Marisks said in a note on Friday.
