Iraq: Fuel Tanker Struck in Territorial Waters, Investigation Underway
The ministry said no crew members were killed or injured in the incident and that there was no leakage of the tanker’s cargo into the water.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraq’s Ministry of Oil said on Wednesday that an oil tanker used to store fuel and operated by the Iraqi Oil Tankers Company (IOTC) was struck by an unidentified source while sailing in the country’s territorial waters.
The ministry said no crew members were killed or injured in the incident and that there was no leakage of the tanker’s cargo into the water.
It added that relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the source of the impact and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The announcement came after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that vessels in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman had been subjected to disabling fire during military activity in the region overnight. The agency said it could not confirm any casualties or environmental damage.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, UKMTO reported that a vessel was sighted listing while anchored about 24 nautical miles from Port Rashid in the United Arab Emirates. The agency said the condition may have resulted from the vessel taking on water after being struck by an unidentified projectile.
The IOTC is a state-owned maritime shipping company established in 1972 and headquartered in Basra. It is responsible for transporting crude oil and refined petroleum products by sea.
The company operates a small legacy fleet of around six active vessels, including the Baghdad, Shatt al-Arab, Dijlah, and Alforat tankers.