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Energy
Mitsui-Owned Tanker Suffers Apparent Attack in the Persian Gulf
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Hormuz
Tokyo -- The Mitsui OSK Lines tanker M. Star suffered an apparent attack in the Persian Gulf near the Straits of Hormuz.
An explosion hit the ship and slightly wounded one crew member at about 12:30 am on the 28th (local time).
The crew of 31 consists of 16 Filipinos and 15 Indians.
The source of the explosion remains unclear, but it seems that it was not caused by any internal malfunction, and was therefore likely an attack.
The M. Star is a 160,000 ton oil tanker owned by Mitsui but registered in the Marshall Islands. It was built in 2008 and was carrying more than 270,000 MT of oil at the time of the explosion.
The damage from the explosion did not affect the ship's ability to sail, nor did it cause an oil leak.
The M. Star had taken on its cargo of oil at Das Island in the United Arab Emirates and was heading for the port of Chiba.
After the explosion, however, the captain set sail for the port of Fujairah to inspect the damage.
It is expected to arrive at 5 pm local time.
Meanwhile, the official news agency of the United Arab Emirates is attributing the damage to high waves caused by an earthquake.
PanOrient News
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