An oil tanker off the coast of Iraq discovered an explosive device attached to his body, the latest incident highlighting the risk to ships in the waters near the Arabian Peninsula.
The Polish-flagged Pole noticed a “suspicious object” on the ship while unloading cargo on another ship, according to a statement from the owner of Dynacom Tankers Management, who added that all crew members are safe.
The object was later found to be a bomb and an Iraqi naval force with a team of explosives was sent to defuse the device, according to an official who refused to be named. It was not immediately clear who would put him in the tank.
The Persian Gulf and the Red Sea were a hotbed for attacks on ships in recent years, with tensions erupting between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Earlier this month an explosion that Saudi officials described as a “terrorist” attack shook a ship in the Red Sea port of Jeddah. The incident came just weeks after an oil tanker was damaged in a possible attack on the same body of water.
At the same time, the focus is on security in the region – especially with Iran, which is subject to US sanctions – as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to succeed Donald Trump in January. Almost exactly a year ago, Trump ordered a drone strike in Iraq that killed one of Iran’s most powerful generals.
Pola, a Suezmax-class ship, has been at anchor since November 7 and is likely to be used as a floating oil depot, according to Bloomberg’s vessel tracking data. When the object was discovered on his body, the tanker appeared to be transferring goods to Nordic Freedom, owned by Nordic American Tankers Ltd.
Pula buys oil offshore and is not affiliated with Iraq’s export terminals, according to the official.
The UK’s maritime trade operations, which serve as a link between the Royal Navy and merchant ships operating in high-risk areas, initially identified the incident, without naming the ship or specifying what was attached to the body. Maritime security consultant Dryad Global said the object is suspected to be a spot mine, which can be attached to a ship.
The fifth US fleet operating in the region had no further details beyond what the UKMTO said in its notification, according to a spokeswoman.
“With the assistance of Julian Lee.”