A seafarer has reportedly been killed following an attack on a Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker in the Arabian Gulf, raising fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the Middle East.
The vessel, identified as the 74,998-deadweight-tonne Velos Sapphire, was reportedly struck by two unidentified projectiles approximately 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal, Qatar, at about 23:20 UTC on November 4.
According to maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, the impact caused an explosion on the vessel’s aft port side and triggered a fire onboard. The fire was subsequently extinguished.
One crew member was reported killed, although the fatality had not yet been independently confirmed at the time of reporting. The International Maritime Organization had listed a missing seafarer in its confirmed incident information.
The incident is particularly concerning because attacks are no longer limited to crude oil tankers. Recent incidents have involved chemical and petroleum product tankers, offshore vessels, bulk carriers and smaller commercial boats.
Maritime security assessments indicate that the attacks are spreading beyond the Strait of Hormuz into other parts of the Arabian Gulf.
The Joint Maritime Information Centre maintained a substantial threat level for the wider region, while the threat level around the Strait of Hormuz remained severe.
The growing security concerns could force shipping companies to reconsider routes, increase security measures and face higher insurance and operating costs.
The safety of seafarers remains a major concern as vessels continue to operate in increasingly dangerous waters.
