An oil tanker off the coast of Iraq discovered an explosive object attached to its hull, the latest incident highlighting the risk to ships in waters near the Arabian peninsula.
Liberian-flagged Pola noticed a “suspicious object” on the ship while unloading cargo on another ship, according to a statement from owner Dynacom Tankers Management, who added that all crew members are safe.
The object was later discovered as a bomb, and an Iraqi naval force with a team of explosives was dispatched to disarm the device, according to an official who refused to be named. It was not immediately clear who might have put it on the tanker.
The Persian Gulf and the Red Sea have been a hotbed of attacks on ships in recent years, with tensions mounting between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Earlier this month, a explosion that Saudi officials described as a “terrorist” attack shook a ship in the port of Jeddah, on the Red Sea. This incident occurred just weeks after an oil tanker was damaged in a possible attack on the same body of water.
At the same time, there is a greater focus on security in the region – particularly with Iran, which is subject to U.S. sanctions – as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to succeed Donald Trump in January. Almost exactly a year ago, Trump ordered a drone attack in Iraq that killed one of Iran’s most powerful generals.
The Pola, a Suezmax class ship, has been docked since November 7 and is probably being used as floating oil storage, show the ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. By the time the object was discovered in its hull, the tanker appeared to be transferring cargo to Nordic Freedom, owned by Nordic American Tankers Ltd.
Pola buys offshore oil and is not affiliated with Iraq’s export terminals, according to the official.
UK Maritime Trade Operations, which serves as a link between the Royal Navy and merchant ships operating in high-risk areas, initially identified the incident, without naming the ship or specifying what was attached to the hull. Maritime safety consultant Dryad Global said the object was suspected to be a limpet mine, which can be attached to a ship.
The US Fifth Fleet, which operates in the region, gave no further details than what the UKMTO said in its statement, according to a spokeswoman.
– With the help of Julian Lee