Daijiworld Media Network - Manama

Manama, Nov 7: A seafarer was killed after a Greek-managed oil products tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Gulf, raising fresh concerns over the safety of commercial shipping amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Velos Sapphire was sailing without cargo towards Bahrain when it was hit on Thursday, November 5, according to its Athens-based manager, Velos Tankers. The company said an explosion, believed to have been caused by an unidentified missile or projectile, struck the vessel's port quarter and triggered a fire.

The seafarer was initially reported missing following the explosion but was later found fatally injured on board. Velos Tankers confirmed the death in a statement on Friday, expressing grief over the loss. The remaining crew members were unharmed and managed to extinguish the fire. No marine pollution was reported.

The vessel was subsequently taken to Bahrain's Khalifa Bin Salman Port, where an investigation is expected to be launched. The extent of the damage to its hull was still being assessed.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had earlier reported an attack on a tanker approximately 50 nautical miles north of Qatar. The vessel was struck by two unidentified projectiles, according to maritime security reports. The incident occurred outside the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting that threats to commercial vessels are not confined to the strategic waterway.

The attack came amid reports of multiple fires involving vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported on Thursday that five oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire after allegedly striking mines in the waterway. On Friday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two more oil tankers had caught fire after hitting mines while attempting to use routes it had declared unauthorised.

In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the IRGC alleged that the two tankers had switched off their navigation and identification systems and were attempting to leave the strait through an unauthorised route with the support of the US military. It claimed that the vessels struck mines, caught fire and were forced to stop. These claims have not been independently verified.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy shipping routes, normally carrying around one-fifth of global oil consumption. Since the Middle East conflict began on February 28, Iran has sought to restrict maritime traffic through the waterway, while the United States has imposed restrictions on Iranian ports and supported commercial shipping operations in the region.

The US Central Command has previously said that mines in the waterway had been cleared and that efforts were being made to facilitate oil exports from Gulf countries. However, the latest reports of attacks and alleged mine strikes have added to uncertainty over maritime security and the movement of oil shipments.

The death of the seafarer aboard Velos Sapphire marks another fatal incident involving commercial shipping in the Gulf, as investigations continue into the attack and the reported fires in the Strait of Hormuz.