Written by
Nick Blenkey
The crew of a Liberian flagged tanker have discovered what seems to be a limpet mine connected to the vessel’s hull whereas conducting ship to ship operations 6 nautical miles south of the Al Bakr Terminal offshore Iraq.
The ship’s supervisor, Dynacom Tankers, has issued this assertion:
Dynacom Tankers confirms that at the moment at roughly 0500 hours UTC, a suspicious object was noticed connected to the hull of our vessel the M/T Pola (IMO 9493767) as she was discharging her cargo throughout a ship to ship operation in Kaz anchorage, Iraq.
In step with customary procedures and ISPS protocols, all crew members had been mustered and they’re protected.
Port and native authorities had been knowledgeable, and the difficulty is now below investigation.
All mandatory notifications have been made. There are at present no additional updates right now.
M/T Pola is a 149,996dwt tanker, in-built 2011 and registered in Liberia.
Maritime safety specialist Dryad World says that it stays unclear whether or not the machine discovered was viable and thus did not explode or was positioned as a “dry run.”
Dryad says that the MT Pola may be seen to have been within the place the place the machine was discovered since December 27, nevertheless it stays unclear when the machine was positioned.
In response to Dryad, this newest incident follows a spate of incidents inside the Purple Sea the place vessels had been focused by related gadgets on the Saudi Ports of Al Shuquaiq and Jeddah.
“Regional tensions stay fraught with uncertainty remaining across the future strategic place of the U.S. inside the area submit Trump,” says Dryad. “As well as current will increase in US navy exercise and rhetoric have led to a heightened posture inside Iran.”
“With the anniversary of the dying of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani approaching,” cautions Dryad, “the corresponding threat inside the area to all vessels is assessed to be SUBSTANTIAL. All vessels are inspired to function at a heightened posture of vigilance while at anchor and in transit and are reminded to report all suspicious exercise to UKMTO”.
