Two tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman

[ORAC]

Sky reporting two tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman this morning. US 6th fleet responding in rescue operation.

Sky reporter states rumours are that they were torpedoed.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9284293/explosions-oil-tankers-gulf-of-oman-iran/

https://news.sky.com/story/two-oil-tankers-attacked-in-the-gulf-of-oman-11740888

[A_Van]

Sky reporting two tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman this morning. US 6th fleet responding in rescue operation.
......

Did not you mean the 5th fleet? 6th fleet operates in the Med, AFAIK.....

[Toadstool]

Did not you mean the 5th fleet? 6th fleet operates in the Med, AFAIK.....
I think its the 5th fleet. Headquarters Bahrain(two seas).

Worrying development.

[ORAC]

Iranian TV reporting that 44 seaman from the two tankers have been taken to an Iranian port.

So it would seem the Iranians were in close proximity to the tankers and ready to act immediately after the attacks occurred.

It would also seem to indicate the tankers have been abandoned or sunk - pollution a major possibility.

[AnglianAV8R]

"Both vessels were carrying "Japan-related" cargo, Japan's Trade Ministry said"

Coinciding with Japanese PM visit to Tehran.

[ORAC]

At least one tanker has sunk, fully loaded with oil.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-tanker-frontline-oman/frontline-says-its-front-altair-tanker-on-fire-in-gulf-of-oman-vg-idUKKCN1TE0YT

Frontline says its Front Altair tanker on fire in Gulf of Oman - VG

OSLO (Reuters) - The Norwegian shipping firm Frontline confirmed on Thursday that its oil tanker Front Altair was on fire after an incident in the Gulf of Oman, Norwegian newspaper VG reported, quoting a company spokesman.

All 23 crew members were brought to safety at a nearby vessel, the spokesman added.

https://twitter.com/amichaistein1/status/1139101818221412352?s=21

https://twitter.com/ladanenasseri/status/1139058750894104577?s=21


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/812x609/image_0d441eb762fce4321bf3c1597778bb797e0fcc99.jpeg

[ORAC]

Tanker reported as heading for Singapore.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-tanker-kokuka/tanker-kokuka-courageous-damaged-in-gulf-incident-manager-idUSKCN1TE0UM

LONDON (Reuters) - The Kokuka Courageous tanker was damaged in a security incident in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, a spokesman for the vessel’s manager BSM Ship Management (Singapore) said.

The spokesman said 21 crew had abandoned ship after the incident, which resulted in damage to the ship’s starboard hull. The master and crew were quickly rescued from a lifeboat by the Coastal Ace, a nearby vessel. One crew man from the Kokuka Courageous was slightly injured in the incident and received first aid on board the Coastal Ace.

“The Kokuka Courageous remains in the area and is not in any danger of sinking. The cargo of methanol is intact,” the spokesman said.

The vessel is about 70 nautical miles from Fujairah and about 14 nautical miles off Iran.

[ORAC]

https://twitter.com/wahab609/status/1139111049842454528?s=21

[jolihokistix]

Top news on Japan's NHK. Their methanol tanker (panama registered) is drifting crewless. They took two hits, (being reported as... artillery?) and the crew were afraid of sparks.

[ORAC]

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/558843-norwegian-tanker-attacked-in-gulf-of-oman-three-blasts-authorities

The Norwegian (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Norwegian) tanker Front (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Front) Altair (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Altair) was "attacked" Thursday in the Gulf of Oman (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Gulf%20of%20Oman), with three explosions but no injuries reported on board, the Norwegian (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Norwegian) Maritime Authority said. Another reported attack in the same zone targeted the vessel Kokuka Courageous, the authority said in a statement.

The Front (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Front) Altair (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Altair), a 111,000-tonne oil tanker, is currently ablaze and emergency crews (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=emergency%20crews) are at the scene, it added. "Today, June 13 at 6:03 am, the Front (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Front) Altair (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Altair), a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, was attacked between the Emirates (https://www.devdiscourse.com/news?tag=Emirates) and Iran," the statement said. “Three explosions on board the vessel were reported. The crew boarded a passing vessel and no injuries have been reported.".....

[jolihokistix]

Someone will benefit from a rise in the price of oil, but everyone else on the planet will lose out as a result of these attacks.

[ericsson16]

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:713604/zoom:10

[Asturias56]

"Both vessels were carrying "Japan-related" cargo, Japan's Trade Ministry said"

Coinciding with Japanese PM visit to Tehran.


Could of course be an unfortunate co-incidence

But who benefits from stirring it up at this point..............

An Iranian faction trying to off the Japanese who are trying to broker a peace deal?

A US operation to get a Gulf of Tonkin Resolution??

The Saudis pushing up the oil price and causing trouble for Iran???

The Israelis putting pressure on Iran ????

Boris Johnson pushing the wrong button on his IPhone ?????

[caiman27]

Neither ship has sunk. Strangely, the Front Altair appears to be moving slowly with two tugs in attendance. One Iranian, one with Bahamas registration.

[Arclite01]

Salvage rights

[Asturias56]

More likely the owners/insurers have hired whatever is available - there must be a load of tugs for hire around there............

The fact they haven't sunk suggests a small mine - a torpedo would break the ship in half

[jolihokistix]

Timed to go off when they are passing Iran?

[TBM-Legend]

Surface to ship missiles from Iranian side..??

[TURIN]

Surface to ship missiles from Iranian side..??

I'm no consperacy theorist but the term 'false flag' keeps popping in to mind.
Just enough damage to the ships to cause offence, no injuries. I can't help thinking that the only entity that wants to escalate a conflict here is the same entity that keeps sabre rattling prior to elections.
Hmmmmm. Suspect.

[jolihokistix]

On the other hand, I cannot see exactly what benefit Iran would gain from such attacks just off her shores. If these were mines, timed once again to go off in the early hours of 6~7 am, then did someone work out in advance roughly where they'd be at that time?

[SASless]

At this point....the latest two "attacks" have not been confirmed by any investigation or examination of the ships involved.

But please....do not let that get in the way of your allegations and declaration of the causes and culprits.:=

[KelvinD]

So it would seem the Iranians were in close proximity to the tankers and ready to act immediately after the attacks occurred.
The Iranian SAR vessel NAJI10 put out from the nearby Iranian port of Jask so I wouldn't read too much into that. Iranian news was quoted as having said quite a number of the Front Altair's crew were taken into Jask. Meanwhile, it seems neither vessel is going anywhere. Front Altair is showing a speed of 08. knots and the other 0.4 knots.

[Just a spotter]

Cui Bono .... ?

JAS

[jolihokistix]

Photos here appear to show that the fire has been extinguished. If so bravo to all. Not so easy to put out the fires of suspicion, though.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/iran-calls-tanker-explosions-suspicious-global-concern-grows-190613150655075.html

[BVRAAM]

This has John Bolton's name written all over it.

He has been desperate for Iranian regime change for a while now, and Trump is not a "yes man." The only way to achieve it is to set something up. Saudi?!
All speculation but this is a rumour site.

It makes absolutely no strategic sense for Iran to do this. Talk about cutting off their nose to spite their face - they're smarter than this.

[Marly Lite]

BVRAAM, agreed. can't wait for the next dodgy dossier.

[SASless]

This has John Bolton's name written all over it.

Since when would a false flag operation bear signed autographs?

[Load Toad]

Since when would a false flag operation bear signed autographs?
John Bolton is the kind of Hawk that wants his name all over a war

[Load Toad]

Fairly Damning Though Innit? (https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/13/politics/us-images-iranian-boat-removing-mine/index.html)

[TEEEJ]

eo6NmFBqDqU

[ORAC]

Background to video above.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/13/mike-pompeo-iran-gulf-oil-tanker-attacks

US says video shows Iranian military removing mine from tanker

The US military has released video footage it says shows an Iranian military patrol boat approach one of two tankers attacked in the Gulf of Oman, to support the Trump administration’s claims that Iran (https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran) was responsible.

The blurry black and white footage, taken from the air, shows a small military boat alongside the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous, and someone standing up on the prow of the boat to remove an object from the tanker’s hull. The small boat then pulls away from the tanker.

US officials were quoted as saying the boat was an Iranian Revolutionary Guard patrol boat approaching the tanker after it was attacked on Thursday, and the object removed was an unexploded limpet mine. It was unclear whether it was being alleged the Iranian sailors were detaching the mine in order to remove evidence......

The US military also released a photo it claimed showed a mine on the side of the Kokuka Courageous and some damage to the hull.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1240x930/image_fbf6bfb6f34bd498bc566fec563ff7638353774b.jpeg

[jolihokistix]

After the first explosion the crew of the Japanese ship report seeing 'flying objects' coming in towards them, and the manager of the company is adamant from listening to their testimony that the subsequent explosion was 'definitely not a mine or a torpedo', it says.

In Japanese: https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190614-00000080-jij-soci

And from NHK, in English until they take it down. A 'projectile' is the translation here: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190614_31/

[dead_pan]

Intriguing why the mines (assuming this is what caused the damage) were positioned above the waterline. Intention to damage rather than sink? Also they would have been quite easy to spot from the deck, depending how long they had been in place. Peculiar stuff.

I do struggle to see how the Iranians benefit from this, assuming they or their proxies are indeed behind this. The Arab states on the other hand...

[ORAC]

I do struggle to see how the Iranians benefit from this, assuming they or their proxies are indeed behind this. Good article in The Times.....

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/west-and-its-gulf-allies-will-point-finger-at-tehran-rf9b72s7mTrump and his allies given the clearest of messagesNo one has claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attacks (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/two-oil-tankers-damaged-in-gulf-attacks-7fdhx3vsz), nor for similar attacks on May 12, but an investigation of those pointed the finger obliquely at Iran, and most western powers and their Gulf allies will be working on the assumption that Tehran is to blame. If that is the case, the speed with which Iranian media were able to announce the attacks and then post video of the resulting conflagration would suggest a brazenness that will help intelligence agencies decipher their purpose.

The May incident (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ships-sabotaged-as-iran-warns-it-is-ready-to-fight-grnvn7gxl) was unprecedented and shocking, but in some ways was less dangerous, as it came at a moment when tensions between Iran and the United States were already high. The United States had boasted of sending an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, along with extra B52 bombers to the US air base at al-Udeid in Qatar. Iran had been threatening action in response to the effective US blockade of Iranian oil exports through its sanctions programme.

But the warnings of an accidental drift to war had already begun to have an effect by May 12. President Trump, who was elected on a pledge not to get involved in Middle East conflicts, went out of his way to talk down the threats of the belligerent John Bolton, his national security adviser, and publicly called for talks with the Iranian regime. He was not looking for regime change, he insisted, only to talk to the regime about its nuclear programme.

He then dispatched the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, to talk to the Supreme Leader. Mr Abe’s spokesman denies his current trip to Tehran is just to act as mediator for the US, but Japan has a vested interest in seeking a solution to the dispute between its most important strategic ally and Iran, previously one of its major oil suppliers.

If today’s attacks are a response to this outreach by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it is then a particularly devastating one. The ayatollah has not only rejected talks with America – which he had already done, and did again when meeting Mr Abe – but done so in the most egregious way. The choice of a Japanese-owned tanker would be a particular insult to Mr Abe.

The only silver lining to this threatening cloud is that this message appears so clear it must be intended to be read as such by his opponents. It is assumed Iran does not actually want a war - which would be devastating to it and, if Mr Bolton had his way at least, could well end the Islamic Republic altogether. Rather, perhaps, the ayatollah is saying that he cannot just be expected to come crawling at the request of an intermediary like Mr Abe.

The tankers targeted so far have been Norwegian, Saudi and Emirati - last month - and Japanese and Norwegian this month. All are key allies but none is actually American, which might trigger an immediate military response.

Iran may be saying that it wants Mr Trump, if he is so keen for a deal, to come crawling himself, or face the consequences.

[BVRAAM]

John Bolton is the kind of Hawk that wants his name all over a war

He's already had his name over one...

It was only 16 years ago.

[ORAC]

Bellingcat started a thread on the attack, still adding posts.

https://twitter.com/bellingcat/status/1139461776611913728?s=21

[dead_pan]

Rather, perhaps, the ayatollah is saying that he cannot just be expected to come crawling at the request of an intermediary like Mr Abe.

Then why host him at all, or get one of his lackeys to meet him?

[Tashengurt]

It all seems a bit too nailed on to me. Unless Iran were sending a message of course.

[NutLoose]

The Iranians (if indeed they are) in the boat could simply claim they were disarming / removing a device they had seen to prevent further damage.

[SASless]

The Iranians in the Patrol Boat were removing and disarming the Mine....no doubt.

Nice of them to do that at very great risk to themselves.

Of course....the possibility they knew what it was....how to safely disarm it....and do so in very short order.....does make one wonder how they knew how to safely and efficiently do so.

Very well trained those Iranians I would say.

Now if they were genuinely innocent of any wrong doing....don't you think the Iranian government would be inviting outsiders (media, military, intelligence) to examine the mine to determine its origins?

Also...none of the ships attacks with Mines in the May incidents and the most recent have sunk....and were only damaged.

None were American.....which as we know from posts here and by the Iranians Public Announcements is the real enemy.

Why have American Allies been attacked but not an American Vessel?

The Iranians are playing the long game here.....divide and conquer....and find a way to get the Sanctions removed shy of getting into a real war.

They know this for sure...

President Trump, who was elected on a pledge not to get involved in Middle East conflicts, went out of his way to talk down the threats of the belligerent John Bolton, his national security adviser, and publicly called for talks with the Iranian regime.

He even asked for help from Abe in that effort.

They better not overplay their hand because if they do it shall get very ugly for them because the Sanctions shall not be removed until the Ayatollah's find themselves hawking Korans in the Bazaars for a living.

The Iranians are behind the attacks....either the Revolutionary Guards are doing it or some group supported by the Iranians are doing it at their bidding.

If it looks like a Duck, waddles like a Duck, quacks like a Duck....it might just be a Duck!

[dr dre]

If it looks like a Duck, waddles like a Duck, quacks like a Duck....it might just be a Duck!

It might just be another lie designed to lie the region into war.

Why would Iranians attack a Japanese ship when their PM is in the country?
Why would they obviously be at the scene of the crime when they know surveillance drones would be watching their every move?
Why would anyone believe a blurry, non specific video as definite proof of anything? I remember some grainy long distance photos were proof of Iraq's supposed WMD's?

In this case the "duck" is an American administration with known Iran regime changers Pompeo and Bolton leading the charge who have no qualms about lying to get into a war. Iraq WMD's or Kuwaiti incubator babies come to mind? Even in the off chance that the Iranian government was directly responsible (despite it going against logic), who is going to believe or support them? Nobody.

[SASless]

You keep repeating yourself post after post.....but never offer any evidence to support your wild conjecture.

Care to enlighten us about why you think as you do?

[Two's in]

From the Times article...

It is assumed Iran does not actually want a war - which would be devastating to it and, if Mr Bolton had his way at least, could well end the Islamic Republic altogether.

That is comedy gold, right there. Just like it worked in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[ORAC]

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=109911&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=100000760787118&utm_campaign=Fight

U.S. CENTCOM Statement on June 13 Limpet Mine Attack in the Gulf of Oman

TAMPA (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Forces in the region received two separate distress calls at 6:12 a.m. local time from the motor tanker (M/T) Altair and a second one at 7a.m. local time from the M/T Kokuka Courageous.

Both vessels were in international waters in the Gulf of Oman approximately 10 nautical miles apart at the time of the distress calls. USS Bainbridge was approximately 40 nautical miles away from the M/T Altair at the time of the attack, and immediately began closing the distance.

At 8:09 a.m. local time a U.S. aircraft observed an IRGC Hendijan class patrol boat and multiple IRGC fast attack craft/fast inshore attack craft (FAC/FIAC) in the vicinity of the M/T Altair.

At 9:12 a.m. local time a U.S. aircraft observes the FAC/FIAC pull a raft from the M/T Altair from the water.

At 9:26 a.m. local time the Iranians requested that the motor vessel Hyundai Dubai, which had rescued the sailors from the M/T Altair, to turn the crew over to the Iranian FIACs. The motor vessel Hyundai Dubai complied with the request and transferred the crew of the M/T Altair to the Iranian FIACs.

At 11:05 a.m. local time USS Bainbridge approaches the Dutch tug Coastal Ace, which had rescued the crew of twenty-one sailors from the M/T Kokuka Courageous who had abandoned their ship after discovering a probable unexploded limpet mine on their hull following an initial explosion.

While the Hendijan patrol boat appeared to attempt to get to the tug Coastal Ace before USS Bainbridge, the mariners were rescued by USS Bainbridge at the request of the master of the M/T Kokuka Courageous. The rescued sailors are currently aboard USS Bainbridge.

At 4:10 p.m. local time an IRGC Gashti Class patrol boat approached the M/T Kokuka Courageous and was observed and recorded removing the unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous (video attached).

The U.S. and our partners in the region will take all necessary measures to defend ourselves and our interests. Today's attacks are a clear threat to international freedom of navigation and freedom of commerce.

The U.S. and the international community, stand ready to defend our interests, including the freedom of navigation.

The United States has no interest in engaging in a new conflict in the Middle East. However, we will defend our interests.

Updates can be found on www.centcom.mil, https://twitter.com/CENTCOM,

https://www.facebook.com/CENTCOM/

[jolihokistix]

Ah, so quite a few inconsistencies and loose ends got tied together in that article. Many thanks, ORAC.

There are several left, however. It has been suggested in the J press for example that as the Kokuka Courageous was Panama flagged, the attackers probably did not know of the Japanese connection. Some Philippino crew members are still insisting on seeing some kind of missile, projectile, or incoming round following the first limpet explosion.

(One one level you could say that these were hijacks, Iranian style, for the crews.)

[BVRAAM]

Combat veterans need to start standing up to inform people about the reality of 21st century warfare.
Maybe if people were more informed then politicians would think twice about trying to set entire countries up for a crime they didn't commit. After all, a more informed electorate has the power to say no to idiots like Bolton.
It's amusing to me how absolutely nobody who has served on the ground in direct combat, in Iraq and Afghanistan, wants to see an invasion of Iran.

[SASless]

Just where do you come up with the idea that Iran is being framed for a crime it did not commit?

Care to show your cards and attempt to convince the rest of us of that notion?

[dook]

So if Iran is not responsible, who is ?

Two plus two equals four.

[SASless]

Since the Saudi King elected to go with the Americans and not the British.....one must consider the possibility of an MI-6 covert action in all this.

Or perhaps the French....as they mined a Green Peace ship in the past.

If we are going to entertain wild eyed conspiracies....lets lay them all out for consideration.

[BVRAAM]

SASless, don't play silly buggers.

Your President's NSA has been fighting with him for a year now to start regime change.
The same man wrote a significant percentage of the Iraq dossier in 2003 in the knowledge that the ship for intervening had sailed 12 months prior.

He has openly stated, on multiple occasions, that he believes Iran would benefit from regime change. Trump has repeatedly said no. He knows the only way to change the President's mind is to start something. Something like asking Saudi to attack civilian tankers in a covert Op.... maybe.
Do you really want your grand kids engaged in another war in the Middle East that is unwinnable?
Do you want MY generation to spill the same blood - if not more - that your kids' generation (if you have them) spilled at the beginning of the millennia?

I have no moral objection to war but it must first have a purpose that goes beyond making some fat cat shareholder rich.

[racedo]

SASless, don't play silly buggers.

Your President's NSA has been fighting with him for a year now to start regime change.
The same man wrote a significant percentage of the Iraq dossier in 2003 in the knowledge that the ship for intervening had sailed 12 months prior.
.

NSA and certain elements in US want regime change but seems to be more in the US Regime than Iranian.
It takes courage not to start a war when not needed as in discussions with North Korea.

It is on record that US made overtures to Syria that they would stop supporting Al Qaeda / IS as long as in reconstruction projects the US Contractors got preferrential terms. Assad decided that he would not ban them but no preferential treatment, deal never happened. Not unsurprisingly he had a problem with the word of ANY US official given how easily it gets broken.

[SASless]

BVRAAM and Racedo.....do you understand the difference between the NSA, CIA, and State Department...their areas of responsibilities and mandate under Federal Law?

It would appear you do not.

Next thing you know you will be blaming us for your own Regime Change that is going on extant.

It seems the UK and the USA are saying it was the Iranians who have attacked the Tankers....even the Guardian is reporting that....and for you two that must be the final word on it.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/14/us-accuses-iran-of-detaining-crew-after-oil-tanker-attack

[ORAC]

Photos of Iranian limpet mines.......

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1052/image_4634cade62d95dd8ef0b827ea58819ea07d946f8.jpeg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/860x2000/image_33171b9fcc8958dcebf2ab7e83d56c55802591bb.jpeg

[ORAC]

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-attacks-repair/blast-hit-kokuka-tanker-being-towed-towards-uae-operator-idUKKCN1TF1I4

Blast-hit Kokuka tanker being towed towards UAE - operator

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Kokuka Courageous, one of two tankers attacked with explosives on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, is now safely under tow and heading towards the United Arab Emirates’ port of Kalba, south of Fujairah, the ship’s operator said on Friday.

Bernhard Schulte Ship management, updated an earlier statement that had said the ship was heading to the port of Khor Fakkan. A company official said the ship had been rerouted because of congestion in both Khor Fakkan and Fujairah.

Earlier, the Dutch marine engineering firm Boskalis said it had been appointed to salvage the vessel and the other tanker, the Front Altair, operated by Frontline.

“The Kokuka Courageous is stable. Full damage assessments will be carried out, but there is no danger of her sinking and there is no loss of cargo or fuel containment,” the statement said.

http://www.seatrade-maritime.com/news/middle-east-africa/smit-appointed-as-salvors-for-tankers-front-altair-and-kokuka-courageous.html

SMIT appointed as salvors for tankers Front Altair and Kokuka Courageous

SMIT Salvage has been awarded the contract to salvage both the Front Altair and the Kokuka Courageous that were attacked in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.

Shortly after the incidents insurers for both vessels appoint the Royal Boskalis Westminster subsidiary as salvors for the ships and their cargoes. The two vessels were hit by explosions and fire resulting the evacuation of the crews.

In the case of aframax Front Altair, Boskalis described the situation with its cargo of naphtha as “still worrisome”.

“The crew was able to safely leave the ship and the fire was extinguished yesterday afternoon. A salvage team was flown in to execute the salvage operation on site with accompanying specialist equipment,” Boskalis said.

As previously reported by managers Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement the Kokuka Courageous is stable and under tow.

“Here too the crew was able to safely leave the vessel after which the ship was stabilized. A towing connection was successfully established yesterday afternoon and the crew was able to return to the vessel. The vessel is currently being towed to a port in the Gulf region,” Boskalis said.

[NutLoose]

Corbyn says there is no proof.... :*

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48645280

[racedo]

BVRAAM and Racedo.....do you understand the difference between the NSA, CIA, and State Department...their areas of responsibilities and mandate under Federal Law?

It would appear you do not.


It is not whether "I" understand the difference it is whether they understand what their Legal purpose is and keep to it.

The deliberate killing of US citizens, spying on US Citizens without a warrant in the US, etc etc has all been going on. Get out for the agencies is that it was not them doing it but a 3rd party private contractor or a "friendly" ally. The friendly ally who then supplied the information, they "alledgedly" were looking at something else and found something.

As for regime change in the US, the censorship that is currently going on its only the tip of it. They tried to fix 2016 election and it failed, then then went down the route of "Russia" interfered and laughingly Congress found that RT.Com had spent less than $100k promoting stories on Google / Twitter.

Facebook / Twitter / Google / Pininterest have all been caught ensuring anybody who has a voice that the Liberal elite do not like is to be shut down. They are to be the judges of what is acceptable. They are media companies who openly discriminate based on colour and race and then claim it is targeting consumers.

[racedo]

Corbyn says there is no proof.... :*

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48645280

or Exactly what every body else is saying

[AnglianAV8R]

https://www.sott.net/article/414959-7-reasons-to-be-highly-skeptical-of-the-Gulf-of-Oman-incident

[Wensleydale]

..after all - would Corbyn side with another of Israel's enemies or not?

[BVRAAM]

BVRAAM and Racedo.....do you understand the difference between the NSA, CIA, and State Department...their areas of responsibilities and mandate under Federal Law?

It would appear you do not.

Next thing you know you will be blaming us for your own Regime Change that is going on extant.

It seems the UK and the USA are saying it was the Iranians who have attacked the Tankers....even the Guardian is reporting that....and for you two that must be the final word on it.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/14/us-accuses-iran-of-detaining-crew-after-oil-tanker-attack

National Security Adviser.

Now please don't try to dodge my point.
No, The Guardian isn't my source of information. I am not a lefty or a liberal, but equally I am not an imperialist idiot.

[BVRAAM]

They have one of the quietest submarines in the world built by the Russians, where they could have struck a tanker with a high chance of nobody knowing... but instead they decide to place and then remove above-water level mines in full view, while being filmed by a UCAV?
It doesn't add up.
I'd bet a year's salary that Iranian Special Forces did NOT plant or remove those mines.

[NutLoose]

I for one couldn't understand why they would target a Japanese vessel while hosting the countries PM, not exactly the way to cement future relationships.

[ShotOne]

Strange that Corbyn can’t even tell us whether he’s for or against Brexit yet he can find time to speak up in favour of Iran’s peaceful intentions.

[langleybaston]

Digression: Corbyn is for Brexit in the north, and remain in the south
Simples.

[Jumbo744]

So if Iran is not responsible, who is ?

Two plus two equals four.

oh wow, what an intelligent post and deduction......maybe stop watching your stupid tv for a day or 2.

[AnglianAV8R]

I for one couldn't understand why they would target a Japanese vessel while hosting the countries PM, not exactly the way to cement future relationships.

Or, that they would attack a tanker owned by a certain Norwegian businessman, who has a long history of doing business with Iran. Fredriksen made his fortune during the Iran–Iraq War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War) in the 1980s, when his tankers picked up oil at great risk and huge profits. As described by his biographer, "he was the lifeline to the Ayatollah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayatollah)." Fredriksen would later become the world's largest tanker owner, with more than seventy oil tankers and major interests in oil rigs and fish farming. His fleet is dominated by costly double-hulled, environmentally safer tankers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fredriksen

[MPN11]

Rogue actors, whether ‘Iran’s Other Government’ or whoever, are IMO unlikely to explore Google to find who owns what. ‘They’ just desire impact and chaos.

[racedo]

Rogue actors, whether ‘Iran’s Other Government’ or whoever, are IMO unlikely to explore Google to find who owns what. ‘They’ just desire impact and chaos.

There are many buisnesses who desire impact and chaos as they make super profits from it. Often these are acting with "unofficial" state actors.

[Asturias56]

Who profits from this attack.....

I suspect the Saudis - there is NO benefit to Iran, it's too amateurish for the Israelis or US intelligence

I'd like to see some more of the "clear evidence" that it was Iranian - some pictures/radar tracks showing Iranian based fast craft hauling alongside these tankers at (?at night?) and placing mines on them. Damn hard to do with frogmen if they are underway

The fact that the Iranians were quickly on the scene is no surprise - they are the closest coastline and according to the USN timeline it was over an hour from the first Mayday to them arriving

[Asturias56]

Actually looking at the height of the "limpet mine" above the water and the report of "missiles" by one of the crew I wonder if we're looking at a drone attack here??

[dr dre]

I for one couldn't understand why they would target a Japanese vessel while hosting the countries PM, not exactly the way to cement future relationships.

Because that’s the best evidence (along with the Japanese tanker company CEO disputing the US’s version of events) that the Iranian government was not behind these attacks. They may be hardliners but they’re not morons.

[SASless]

Why did the Iranians attempt to shoot down the Reaper Drone that responded to the vessels after the attack on them?

The vessels were in International waters thus the Drone was as well.

Why was the crew of the one tanker detained by the Iranians?

What is it the Iranians are trying to hide?

Why did the Iranians put out a propaganda video declaring they had sunk Israeli and American vessels?

Why do you not question the Iranians and hold them to the same standard you do the Americans?

[racedo]

Why did the Iranians attempt to shoot down the Reaper Drone that responded to the vessels after the attack on them?


https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/06/14/iran-fired-missile-us-drone-prior-tanker-attacks-defense-official.html

Prior it appears plus a drone coming close to a naval vessel will get shot down / warned off. USN will do the same thing.

Opposite site of "A" story is US drone was providing targeting info for someone else to attack the tankers and there to photgraph it.

Are US drones following "every" tanker that is transiting Straits of Hormuz or is it very selective based on direct orders from eleswhere. Would be interesting on seeing where the paper trail is leading.


The vessels were in International waters thus the Drone was as well.


So was the Iran Air Airbus and USS Vincennes had crossed and was operating in Iranian waters during that fateful day.

USS Sides and Vincennes saw same data, one had a competent crew who understood their duty, the other didn't and shot down a civilian airliner.

Iranian drone operating in international waters close to a US Naval vessel will get treated as hostile, should same not apply on opposite sides ?


Why was the crew of the one tanker detained by the Iranians?


Rescued, looked after and questioned as to what happened..... er same thing that USN did.


What is it the Iranians are trying to hide?


Quite possibly nothing at all, hence they doing everything to try and find WTF is going on and who is really behind it.


Why did the Iranians put out a propaganda video declaring they had sunk Israeli and American vessels?

Propoganda that someone thinks is a good idea, just because someone does it doesn't mean whole Govt agreed to it and signed off on it. Theirs is a bureaucracy and as incompetent as any.


Why do you not question the Iranians and hold them to the same standard you do the Americans?


I do and look at their motives. Someone is intent on getting a shooting match started. US Def Sec and Sec of State are the ones egging it on in recent weeks with Israel and Saudi's seeking an attack on Iran and openly requesting it.

Yet seemingly everybody has to believe that Iran wants it to start.

[SASless]

I do and look at their motives. Someone is intent on getting a shooting match started. US Def Sec and Sec of State are the ones egging it on in recent weeks with Israel and Saudi's seeking an attack on Iran and openly requesting it.

You seem to be reading very different news sources than I am re these Tanker attacks...all four of them.

Trump has clearly stated he wishes to have substantive negotiations with the Iranians and even asked the Japanese PM to encourage them to do so.

How is that calling for War?

[racedo]

You seem to be reading very different news sources than I am re these Tanker attacks...all four of them.

Trump has clearly stated he wishes to have substantive negotiations with the Iranians and even asked the Japanese PM to encourage them to do so.

How is that calling for War?

Never mentioned US President, I mentioned two of his underlings Sec's Pompeo and Bolton.

Trump has been very clear that he doesn't seek a war, I believe him which is why the Deep State hate him. Pompeo and Bolton have been very clear they wish for a war, be it in Venezuala, Iran or anywhere else and yes I would firmly believe they would conspire to get US into a war in whatever way possible.

You know from when you served that Navy / Marines / Air Force / Army struggled to coordinate things because each had different agenda and plans. This is exactly the same at Govt level but the implications can be even worse for decades after.

In Russia if something happens then Putin seemingly ordered it, Iran it was Ayatollah but seemingly in US / UK etc then it wasn't the President / PM but someone else.

Fact is most leaders don't have a clue what people are getting up to and rely on being briefed properly but military / intel are quite happy to lie to their back teeth until they caught. Current National leaders wouldn't be first to have to rely on the media for information because the way it gets sanitised and blocked at verious stages of the bureaucracy.

[Bill Macgillivray]

Maybe we should look a bit further into world/area interest in this region and the benefits/losses that could occur if there is a full confrontation in the Gulf. I worked there for many years including
in the maritime recce. role, (was there at the time of the Vincennes incident and I mean there, about 100' and 6-8 miles away) and have to say ( only my own opinion,) that I was not impressed with the actions/ radio of the USN.! There appears to be too many queries/doubts as to these incidents to apportion blame at this stage. The Iranian military (?) are far more sophisticated than appears in these reports!

Not anti-American, worked there as well and have much admiration for them!

Bill

[SASless]

Even the crew of the Vincennes were ashamed of their actions that day.

If in doubt of that....watch the video and see their reaction when they realized the "Threat" was a civilian airliner they had shot down.

Mistakes happen for many reasons and far too many innocent folks get harmedt when that happens.

I am sure the US Navy learned some very bitter lessons from that tragedy.

One must recall the earlier successful attack on a US warship not all that long before the Vincennes Incident.

For sure someone is intent upon causing chaos and heightened tensions in the area and have succeeded somewhat.

If and when they get found out there shall be a heavy price to pay for these four attacks.

That does not excuse what happened but does help in describing the environment the ship was operating in.....the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are dangerous places due to the hostile relationships of so many countries in the Region.

[Bill Macgillivray]

SASless,

Thanks for quick reply, I have no arguements with any of your comments, however, I was well aware of the environment that I was operating in - I had been doing it for 10 years!! (with three crew and some good kit) and we were all aware of the political situation at the time

Rightly or wrongly I still have the feeling that there is somewhat more to this latest *** (call it what you wish!!!) than meets the eye (or the eye of the press) and the politicians (leaders??)

Bill

[TEEEJ]

Material left behind after what the US said was the removal of an unexploded limpet mine.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/image/11219360-3x2-940x627.jpg

Blast damage on the Kokuka Courageous.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/image/11219384-3x2-940x627.jpg

https://www.abc.net.au/news/image/11219288-3x2-940x627.jpg

https://www.abc.net.au/news/image/11219328-3x2-940x627.jpg

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-18/us-sending-more-troops-to-middle-east-amid-iran-fears/11219238?section=world

[racedo]

Amazingly from the pictures the boat is there for over 1 hour removing a mine, knowing full well that they will be photegraphed, other ships will come alongside and without reference to the outcome if said device exploded.

But then again it may have been a dummy placed there with a plan for it not to go off to show the world a picture certain people wanted.

Strange how with all that camera equipment and surveillance they were not able to spot the boat that the people who placed it were on. Assumming tanker was making 10-12 knots then would have needed to be a reasonably fast and competent team to have done it without anybody spotting it twice on same ship.

Unless it was always a dummy and the ships crews crew who reported a "missile" / drone attack were the ones who called it right.

[SASless]

Unless it was always a dummy and the ships crews crew who reported a "missile" / drone attack were the ones who called it right.

So....four tankers attacked....three you say we're Mines....and the odd one was a Hellfire Missile from a US Reaper Drone is it now?

Who and how were the three successful Mines attached?

Why a mix of Mines and a Drone or did a new and secret Drone attach the Mines?

Lay out for us how you think these four attacks were perpetrated would you?

[racedo]

So....four tankers attacked....three you say we're Mines....and the odd one was a Hellfire Missile from a US Reaper Drone is it now?

Who and how were the three successful Mines attached?

Why a mix of Mines and a Drone or did a new and secret Drone attach the Mines?

Lay out for us how you think these four attacks were perpetrated would you?

I have never suggested it was a US Hellfire Missile, I reported what the Tanker crew and its owners have publicly stated regarding a missile rather than a mine hitting the ship.

As for the mines being attached, when, how and by whom were they attached ? Again the claim of mines is being done by media, a drone loaded with some explosives could just as easily been the culprit for all of them.

If it was a "Military" missile I very much doubt the ship would have been going anywhere but attaching some explosives to a drone is not exactly high tech anymore and that is going to be scary in the future.

Bearing in mind that the ships were underway then it requires a decent feat to be able to place mines in such a way as to minimise damage, that is unless they had been planted when ship was picking up its cargo.

Puzzled about reluctance of revealing surveillance around all the ships.

[AnglianAV8R]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3n5gfZtmkc&feature=youtu.be

[dr dre]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3n5gfZtmkc&feature=youtu.be

Wasn’t the first time a senior US government official has exposed long held plans for war against Iran:

General Wesley Clark - 7 countries in 5 years

[SASless]

Long held Plans.....or long held plans?

The way our Administrations how can it be long held plans?

I am sure there is a contingency plan for war with the UK stashed away somewhere in a filing cabinet at DOD.....it will be a very thin File however.

[racedo]

Long held Plans.....or long held plans?

The way our Administrations how can it be long held plans?

I am sure there is a contingency plan for war with the UK stashed away somewhere in a filing cabinet at DOD.....it will be a very thin File however.

Oh the plans are there for all, even I would suggest for taking back areas of the US that have decided to go their own way.

Administrations come and go but you can bet plans were drawn up with lots of different scenarios and get reviewed on a reasonably regular basis depending on political environment and with little administration involvement.

US has "interfered" in UK elections before both overtly and covertly, I fully expect them to do so again next election.

US wouldn't be doing its job in looking after its own interests were it not doing that.

[Davef68]

Maybe we need to look beyond the obvious parties - who is most likely to benefit from a war in the Gulf, and the resultant squeeze on oil exports and increase in Oil prices? Maybe even non-State entities

[SASless]

Mark the Calendar....Racedo and I agree on something.

Nation States and other groups or interested parties inject themselves into other nations politics to effect positive outcomes.

Some succeed and some fail.

[racedo]

Mark the Calendar....Racedo and I agree on something.

Nation States and other groups or interested parties inject themselves into other nations politics to effect positive outcomes.

Some succeed and some fail.

We have agreed on stuff before. :)

[ORAC]

Tanker belonging to company Zodiac Marine attacked off Masirah Island in Oman. Two crew dead including one Briton.

No news yet on the nature of the attack.

https://apnews.com/article/ship-israeli-billionaire-oman-c43203ff0262ba2c4bfafb31cc42fa50

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An oil tanker linked to an Israeli billionaire reportedly came under attack off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, authorities said Friday, an assault that killed two crew members.

The attack Thursday night targeted Liberian-flagged oil tanker Mercer Street just northeast of the Omani island of Masirah. The location is over 300 kilometers (185 miles) southeast of Oman’s capital, Muscat…..

London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group, issued a statement saying the ship was the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Mercer Street and was Japanese owned. The British Defense Ministry earlier misidentified the ship’s owners.

Zodiac Maritime described the attack as “piracy,” without elaborating. It later said the attack killed two crew members, one from the United Kingdom and another from Romania. It said the company was “not aware of harm to any other personnel.”

“At the time of the incident the vessel was in the northern Indian Ocean, traveling from Dar es Salaam to Fujairah with no cargo onboard,” the statement from Zodiac Maritime said, naming ports in Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates respectively…..

An brief initial statement from the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an investigation was underway into the incident, which it described as happening late Thursday night.

The statement did not elaborate, other to say that it suspected the attack did not involve piracy. Earlier on Thursday, the British military group had said it was investigating another unexplained incident in the same area, but it did not elaborate.

Oman did not acknowledge an attack and officials there did not respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which patrols the Mideast, did not respond to a request for comment.

[Bob Viking]

That’s pretty exciting.

BV

[Stitchbitch]

That’s pretty exciting.

BV

Not the usual pirate hunting ground off Salalah/ East Yemen. Not the usual 'pirates' either..

[Fortissimo]

That’s pretty exciting.

BV

Indeed, especially if you have concerns about regional instability and Iranian-backed militia attacking merchant shipping that is supposed to have right of innocent passage. (Let's not get into piracy in the Indian Ocean and off HOA.) If you were looking for signals that the regime might be willing to have a pop at oil traffic through the Straits of Hormuz, this could be one. The absence of substantive comment from Oman, MOD, 5th Fleet suggests there may be a bit of analysis and planning going on, so there will be some excitement in several HQs today.

[Bill Macgillivray]

Anyone any idea what the attack was carried out by? It seems a bit away from the normal "danger"areas that I remember from my years in that part of the world (and there were quite a few!).

Bill

[ORAC]

Anyone any idea what the attack was carried out by? It seems a bit away from the normal "danger"areas that I remember from my years in that part of the world (and there were quite a few!).

Reports are it was an armed suicide drone. Presumably it would have to have had either a line of sight command link or satellite.

The two reported killed were the captain, a Rumanian, and a British security guard. Which would seem to suggest it targeted the bridge.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ukmto-says-received-reports-vessel-attacked-off-oman-coast-2021-07-30/

….Al Alam TV, the Iranian government's Arabic-language television network, cited unnamed sources as saying the attack on the ship came in response to a suspected, unspecified Israeli attack on Dabaa airport in Syria…..

Israeli news website Ynet said the assessment in Israel was that there were two attacks on the ship, spaced several hours apart. The first caused no damage, and the second hit the bridge, causing the casualties.….

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which provides maritime security information, said the attack was not piracy. The vessel was about 152 nautical miles (280 km) northeast of the Omani port of Duqm when it was attacked, it said.…

[Asturias56]

The Iranians attack , the Israelis attack - quite honestly it suits a lot of people on both sides to stoke trouble

I have no time for either side

[Toadstool]

The Iranians attack , the Israelis attack - quite honestly it suits a lot of people on both sides to stoke trouble

I have no time for either side

The Iranians have been getting hammered for some time now in Iraq and Syria. Not to mention countless Cyber attacks on their facilities.

Whilst I have no time for them I’m not surprised that, if involved, it took them this long.

[jolihokistix]

From the ‘Arab News’ site, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1903181/middle-east
Quote: the attack which, US officials say, saw several drones laden with explosives flown into the Mercer Street tanker, one of which hit the crew’s living quarters.

[Lookleft]

Reports are it was an armed suicide drone.

Is that like a kamikaze cruise missile?

[frodo_monkey]

Is that like a kamikaze cruise missile?

As opposed to the sort that returns from whence it came…?!

[jolihokistix]

A 'kamikaze drone' is a 'loitering munition' in US English apparently.

[Ninthace]

A 'kamikaze drone' is a 'loitering munition' in US English apparently.. So what’s a mine called? They can loiter for years!

[Lyneham Lad]

Article on the BBC News website.
Tanker attack: Tensions rise as Iran and Israel trade accusations (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58048007)Israel's PM has said he knows "with certainty" Iran was involved in a deadly tanker attack off Oman, accusations Tehran called "baseless".

Two crew members died when the MV Mercer Street, operated by an Israeli-owned firm, was attacked on Thursday.

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett warned "we know how to send a message to Iran", while Tehran said it would "not hesitate to defend its interests".

There have been several recent attacks on Israeli- and Iranian-operated ships.

The attacks since March have been seen as tit-for-tat incidents.

The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says this undeclared shadow war - and its counter-denials - had been heating up, but the human casualties on the Mercer Street marked a significant escalation.

A British security guard and a Romanian crew member died on the Zodiac Maritime-operated vessel, with the US pointing to a drone attack.

Mr Bennett told a cabinet meeting on Sunday intelligence evidence existed that Iran had carried out the attack.

He called on the international community to make it clear that Iran had "made a serious mistake".

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told reporters Israel "must stop such baseless accusations".

He said of the allegations: "Whoever sows the wind reaps the whirlwind."

However, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also blamed Iran.

"We believe this attack was deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran," Mr Raab said in a statement.

"UK assessments have concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV Mercer Street in international waters off Oman on 29 July using one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)."

[etudiant]

Article on the BBC News website.
Tanker attack: Tensions rise as Iran and Israel trade accusations (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58048007)

Given all the proxies fighting in this area, I'm surprised the Chinese have not yet been blamed.
It does seem rather obvious that there is a desire to choke off the Iran/China oil trade, this 'incident' seems tailor made to make that politically passable.
I'd consequently expect China to start using Chinese flagged ships next, despite the economic hit, because they really need reliable supply.
I do not think Israel would want to get into China's bad books.

[jolihokistix]

. So what’s a mine called? They can loiter for years!

How do you get a mine into the crew’s quarters or the bridge?
https://japantoday.com/category/world/iran-denies-launching-oil-tanker-attack-that-killed-2
Quote:

The drone attack blasted a hole through the top of the oil tanker’s bridge, where the captain and crew command the vessel, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as an investigation into the attack still was ongoing.

[ORAC]

Things are escalating….

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/03/extreme-caution-urged-in-gulf-of-oman-after-non-piracy-incident

Iranian-backed forces suspected of tanker hijacking off UAE coast

Iranian-backed forces are suspected of being behind the seizure of a tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (https://www.theguardian.com/world/united-arab-emirates), after Britain’s maritime trade agency reported a “potential hijack” in the area on Tuesday by eight to nine armed individuals.

Maritime security sources identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged asphalt tanker that was reportedly intercepted in an area in the Arabian Sea leading to the strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil exports flow.

Maritime security analysts at Dryad Global and Aurora Intelligence later named the endangered ship as the Asphalt Princess travelling to Sohar, a port on Oman’s northern coast.In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said it was “urgently investigating an incident on a vessel off the UAE coast”. A spokesperson for the US state department said it was “too early to offer a judgment” on the incident.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied that the country’s forces or allies were involved, saying the incident was a pretext for “hostile action” against Tehran, Iranian state television said on its website.

“According to information from security sources, Iran’s armed forces and all branches of the Islamic Resistance in the Middle East have nothing to do with the incident in the Gulf of Oman,” the Guards said in a statement carried by the website.

The statement said the incident was an attempt by western countries and Israel (https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel) “to prepare the public opinion of the international community for hostile action against the honourable nation of Iran.”…..

First intimations of an incident emerged on Tuesday afternoon when a warning notice was issued by the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which notified ships that “an incident is currently under way” – later upgraded to a “potential hijacking”.

An Oman Royal Air Force Airbus C-295MPA, a maritime patrol aircraft, was flying over the area, according to data from Flightradar24.com.

The initial warning emerged amid contradictory claims in different local media that up to four ships had reported issues. Four oil tankers announced around the same time via their automatic identification system trackers that they were “not under command”, according to MarineTraffic.com.

It was not clear, however, of the significance of those alerts or even if they were related, with one of the ships later moving again.

The US military’s Middle East-based Fifth Fleet and the British defence ministry did not immediately return calls for comment. The Emirati government did not immediately acknowledge the incident.…..

[BEagle]

Sorry to disappoint the PPRuNe warmongers (actually, I'm not at all):

'Potential hijack' of oil tanker by suspected Iran-backed army is over

For full story, see https://news.sky.com/story/potential-hijack-of-oil-tanker-by-suspected-iran-backed-army-is-over-12372173

[ORAC]

Not sure the hijckers either leaving, or being driven off, ends the overall situation - or the possibility of relation. Ship was turned to head towards Iran before the incident was closed, by whatever means…..

I await with interest any reports which come out as to what happened last night in the Straits of Hormuz…

https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/04/asphalt-princess-hijackers-have-left-vessel-off-uae-coast-says-british-navy-group

“Late on Tuesday, as the incident was underway, six oil tankers off the coast of Fujairah had announced around the same time via their Automatic Identification System trackers that they were “not under command,” according to MarineTraffic.com. That typically means a vessel has lost power and can no longer steer.”…..

[merch]

It's not particularly rare for vessels to display N.U.C both visual and by A.I.S. when awaiting voyage orders or load/discharge dates. They shouldn't as technically they are not NUC. Perhaps that's the reason for some of them.

[ORAC]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/crew-of-tanker-off-uae-coast-said-to-thwart-iran-hijacking-by-sabotaging-engines/

Crew of tanker off UAE coast said to thwart Iran hijacking by sabotaging engines

The crew of a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the coast of Oman reportedly managed to thwart an attempt by Iranian gunmen to take control of their ship and divert it to the Islamic Republic.

Roughly half a dozen Iranian operatives stormed the Asphalt Princess, but the crew onboard quickly sprung to action and sabotaged the ship’s engines so that it could not move any further, UK officials told British daily The Times on Wednesday.

The gunmen fled the ship once US and Omani warships arrived at the scene, The Times said, adding that none of the crew were injured in the hijacking attempt…..

[SamYeager]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/crew-of-tanker-off-uae-coast-said-to-thwart-iran-hijacking-by-sabotaging-engines/

Crew of tanker off UAE coast said to thwart Iran hijacking by sabotaging engines

The crew of a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the coast of Oman reportedly managed to thwart an attempt by Iranian gunmen to take control of their ship and divert it to the Islamic Republic.

Roughly half a dozen Iranian operatives stormed the Asphalt Princess, but the crew onboard quickly sprung to action and sabotaged the ship’s engines so that it could not move any further, UK officials told British daily The Times on Wednesday.


Good to see this has now been publicised so that the next set of hijackers will know to threaten, or worse, the crew to reverse their sabotage. :rolleyes:

[tdracer]

Seems it would be pretty hard for Iran to deny any culpability if they had successfully diverted it to Iran...