Two More Tankers Attacked By Mysterious Attackers

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Two oil tankers attacked Thurs in Gulf of Oman
forcing crews to abandon ship 
setting at least one vessel ablaze

month after four tankers damaged in same waterway

not clear how attacks carried out or by whom
circumstances of last month’s attacks remain murky

two ships struck on Thurs more seriously damaged than those hit in May
world’s oil and gas come from Persian Gulf area
bordered by Saudi, U.A.E., Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain
30% of world’s crude oil passes through Straits
One ship Front Altair, owned by Norwegian shipping company Frontline
carrying naphtha, petroleum product, confirmed attacked
ship on fire, all 23 crew members rescued

Front Altair left Emirati port of Ruwais, headed to Kaohsiung




The Front Altair left burning (Washington Post).
other tanker Kokuka Courageous carrying methanol
reported that it too was on fire
headed from Saudi port of Al Jubail to Singapore

21 crew abandoned ship 
quickly rescued by nearby vessel




Iran’s state media confirmed rescue of 44 mariners
rescue team from Iran province of Horozgan picked up crew 
Japan said both ships carrying “Japan-related cargo” 
attack came as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is visiting Iran

My comments :

This is another serious escalation. Just who is doing these attacks against the tankers?  Six ships have been attacked by mysterious forces. No one has claimed responsibility.

I believe the first four ships were attacked while they were riding at anchor. These last two ships appear to have been under way while they were attacked.

Analysts say the first four ships were attacked by divers using limpet mines, embarking from motor boats or high speed boats.  Where did they come from?

But attacking a moving vessel (without using torpedoes or mines) and going undetected requires some serious skill. 

If this attack can be carried out so brazenly (and with such ease) then what about the safety of naval vessels like aircraft carriers and other surface vessels? 

This second attack also seems to be an improvement on the first attack earlier. In the earlier attacks the ships were barely scratched. In this second attack both ships were abandoned and the Front Altair was left fully ablaze. You can see the picture above.

Maybe they used sea drones or underwater drones. 

The only nations in that neighborhood that can do this type of thing will be Iran, the US and Israel. 

The country bearing the major risk is Saudi Arabia.

If the culprits are not "neutralised" this will escalate.Posted by Syed Akbar Ali 

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