EnvironmentMiddle EastOperationsTankers

Holed Iranian tanker leaves oily slick across the Red Sea

The Sabiti, an Iranian suezmax attacked on Friday morning in the Red Sea off Jeddah, has left a trail of oil as it sailed more than 500 miles over the weekend towards Eritrea before turning around and is now likely headed back to Iran where it will require significant repairs.

Iranian authorities are saying the ship was attacked by two missiles and images of the stricken ship show two sizeable holes in the starboard fore of the tanker’s hull. No crew were injured in the attacks, the latest in a series of tanker incidents in the Middle East over the past six months that have raised ship insurance costs dramatically.

“Piracy and mischief on international waterways aimed at making commercial shipping insecure will not go unanswered,” said Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, over the weekend.

 

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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