The Royal Navy has warned of the “potential hijack” of a ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf of Oman, though the circumstances remain unclear.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers and as commercial shipping in the region has found itself in the crosshairs.
Most recently, the US, the UK and Israel blamed Iran for a drone attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman that killed two people, including one Briton. Iran has denied involvement.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations initially warned ships on Tuesday that “an incident is currently under way” off the coast of Fujairah. Hours later, authorities said the incident was a “potential hijack” but provided no further details.
Suspected hijacking of oil tanker off the coast of UAE is now over, UK has said Boarders have left the vessel. Vessel is safe. Incident complete, a statement from Britain s maritime safety agency said, without elaborating
It was thought the ship, identified as tanker Asphalt Princess, had been boarded by armed men with links to Iran or one of its proxies
Iran denied involvement, and it is still not clear who raiders were or why they left
Hijackers have left vessel off Gulf of Oman: British navy group
Web report/Dubai
Photo: AP
No further details were provided.
The hijackers who seized a vessel off the coast of the Gulf of Oman left the targeted ship on Wednesday, the British navy reported, without elaborating.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the “incident,” which it had described as a potential hijacking the night before, was now “complete.” It did not provide further details.
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The vessel’s owner, listed as Glory International, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The event unfolded amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers and as commercial shipping in the region has found itself caught in the crosshairs.
Tanker hijack takes place off UAE coast August 4, 2021, by Fatima Bahtić
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued a warning on 3 August 2021 that a ship may have been hijacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
UKMTO initially reported a “non-piracy” incident on the unidentified ship before updating its description to a “potential hijack” which occurred off the UAE coast, approximately 60 nautical miles from Fujairah.
Source: UKMTO
#BreakingNews Unconfirmed reports involving the vessel ASPHALT PRINCESS off Fujairah.
We know:
👉 incident reported 1230UTC
👉 Omani Royal Air Force C-295 maritime patrol aircraft currently over reported location Dryad Global (@GlobalDryad) August 3, 2021
Royal Navy warns of potential hijack
Incident in Gulf of Oman days after attack on tanker
The Mercer Street was attacked last Thursday (Image: PA)
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