A Gibraltar-flagged oil tanker was attacked by an unknown projectile while at anchor off Dubai on September 9, killing one crew member and leaving another missing.
The vessel, MV Hercules Star, was anchored about 24 nautical miles off Port Rashid when it was struck. UKMTO reported that the tanker was listing after the attack and that the master had reported possible water ingress.
The tanker’s charterer, Peninsula, confirmed the incident and said a specialist team was searching for the missing seafarer. The remaining crew members were reported safe.
MV Hercules Star was built in 2022 and measures 115 metres in length with a beam of 19 metres.
The attack came amid a wider escalation around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it had attacked 10 ships after the US sank five Iranian oil tankers. UKMTO reported several merchant vessels hit by disabling fire in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman. It had not confirmed the number of casualties or the environmental impact.
Other incidents were also reported across the region. Iraqi port officials said the tanker MV New Andros, carrying about 2 million barrels of fuel oil, caught fire after being struck by a drone in Iraqi waters. Its 22 crew members were reportedly unharmed.
The attacks have increased risks for commercial shipping operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with vessels facing threats on both sides of the waterway.
