Blast on Greek-managed tanker in the Gulf kills one seafarer
An explosion believed to have been caused by a missile hit the MT Velos Sapphire in the Persian Gulf, killing one crew member. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday that two more tankers were on fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
A seafarer died after an explosion tore through an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, the ship's operator said on Friday. Greek management firm Velos Tankers said the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Velos Sapphire was sailing towards Bahrain when it was attacked. The blast is believed to have been caused by a missile, The Eastleigh Voice reported. The crew member was first reported missing after the explosion. The company said the seafarer was later "found fatally injured on board". The blast started a fire, which the crew put out. No other injuries were reported. Bahrain's Khalifa Bin Salman Port took in the ship, and an investigation will assess the damage to its hull. The attack is the latest in a string of strikes on ships in the Gulf. The Wall Street Journal, citing regional officials, security firms and analysts, reported that Iran is using every tool it has to stop oil leaving the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, Tehran has used bomb-laden undersea drones, rocket-propelled grenades and crews attaching limpet mines to ships in recent weeks. Data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center…
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