“We are working on the assumption that Iranian soldiers or their allies have boarded,” Reuters was quoted as saying by British sources.
–
Citing an unnamed security source, Sky News reported that the Panamanian-flagged Asphalt Princess was hijacked when eight or nine armed men boarded it.
–
The British Army’s Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) first warned a ship within 60 nautical miles of the coastal city of Fujairah on Tuesday that an “incident” was likely to take place.
–
Prior to the announcement, four oil tankers operating in the same area of the Gulf of Oman sent an automatic identification system (AIS) notification at about the same time that they were “not under command,” according to MarineTraffic.com, which monitors shipping.
–
This usually means that the ship is unable to maneuver due to exceptional circumstances. One of these vessels later set in motion again.
–
Another incident in a row
Tuesday’s incident took place just days after an oil tanker linked to an Israeli billionaire hit a drone off the coast of Oman, killing two crew members.
–
Israeli Ejala Ofera’s Zodiac Maritime ship was attacked on Thursday evening, northeast of the Omani island of Masirah. The company’s management announced that two sailors from Romania and Britain were killed in the attack.
—
