Qatari LNG Tanker Attacked Off Oman's Coast
A Qatari LNG tanker named Al Rekayyat has been stranded off Oman's coast after being hit by a projectile, causing a fire in its engine room. According to industry sources, the vessel was at risk of exploding due to the fire, but the cargo of liquefied natural gas remains intact and there is no breach of the tanks.
The tanker, owned by Nakilat (Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd), was hit on its port side overnight on Tuesday. All crew members have been safely evacuated, and efforts are continuing to extinguish the fire.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supplies. The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center has raised the threat level to 'severe' from 'substantial' following the attacks on Al Rekayyat and two other tankers.
The U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has urged parties to allow the evacuation of stranded ships and avoid sailings through Hormuz until safety and security can be assured. The IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that 'no seafarer should have to risk their life simply for doing their job.'