The oil tanker El Gaia, sailing under the Panama flag, is being towed to Port of Oman after a fire broke out on the ship. The fire, which occurred in the engine room, has been brought under control, but two crew members are still missing.
Incident Details
The Oman Maritime Security Center reported that the tanker is located about 103 nautical miles northeast of Musandam province. The Royal Navy of Oman evacuated 23 crew members and provided medical assistance. Search operations for the two missing crew members are ongoing.
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Conflicting Claims About the Cause of the Incident
This incident is linked to international tensions, as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed that the oil tanker El Gaia struck a naval mine while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In contrast, the U.S. Central Command rejected this claim, stating that the tanker was instead attacked twice by Iran; once with a missile last month that disabled the ship and again with a drone last weekend.
The U.S. Central Command described the claim as a "lie" and an example of Iran's efforts to instill fear and obstruct commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has not taken responsibility, only stating that the fire in the engine room occurred after a previous attack and has now been extinguished.
Maritime Attacks and Regional Security Situation
Maritime attacks continue, however, maritime officials have warned that there may be abandoned or floating mines in the strait. In September, a vessel in the strait was struck by an unidentified project, but no damage or environmental harm was reported. The U.S. Central Command has also stated that forces have been clearing mines from shipping routes for several months, but warnings about the potential presence of mines continue.
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