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Merchant ships face serious risk of attack in and around the Strait of Hormuz, and not just tankers, bulkers and boxships. On Sunday, a tug was attacked and hit at a position to the east of the Musandam Peninsula, near the seaward entrance to the strait.
The tug was moving southbound parallel to the peninsula when it was struck by two unknown projectiles, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). One crewmember suffered minor injuries. The vessel was able to continue its voyage despite damage.
Vanguard Tech has identified the vessel in question as the Dutch-flagged tug JIF Barracuda (IMO: 9345506, ex name Smit Barracuda). The vessel’s AIS signal was last detected on the 17th, under way off Ras Al-Khaiman and headed in the direction of the strait’s western entrance.
On Friday, the master of a tanker reported that his ship was approached by unknown assailants in a small boat off Al Jubayl in the central Arabian Gulf. The occupants of the boat launched an RPG at the ship, damaging the port quarter. No harm to the crew was reported.
FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE HERE: maritime-executive.com
